Method for the production of p-hydroxybenzoate in species of pseudomonas and agrobacterium

ABSTRACT

Bacterial strains transformed with the pcu genes are useful for the production of para-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA). Applicant has provided the p-cresol utilizing (pcu) and tmox gene sequences from  Pseudomonas mendocina  KR-1, the proteins encoded by these sequences, recombinant plasmids containing such sequences, and bacterial host cells containing such plasmids or integrated sequences. Method for the use of these materials to produce PHBA are also disclosed.

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 09/585,174 filed on Jun. 1, 2000.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the fields of molecular biology and microbiology, and to the use of genetic techniques to introduce a modified pathway for the production of desired compounds. More specifically, this invention describes genetically engineered biocatalysts possessing an enhanced, or new, ability to transform p-cresol or toluene to p-hydroxybenzoate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] p-Hydroxybenzoate (PHBA) is used as a monomer for synthesizing Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP). LCP's are used in electronic connectors and in telecommunication and aerospace applications. LCP resistance to sterilizing radiation suits these materials for use in medical devices as well as in chemical, and food packaging applications. Esters of PHBA also are used as backbone modifiers in other condensation polymers (i.e., polyesters), and are also used to make parabens preservatives.

[0004] Chemical synthesis of PHBA is known. For example, JP 05009154 teaches a chemical route using the Kolbe-Schmidt process from tar acid and CO₂ involving 1) the extraction of tar acid from a tar naphthalene oil by an aqueous potassium hydroxide, 2) adding phenol to the extracted tar acid potassium salt, 3) removing H₂O, and 4) reacting the resultant slurry with CO₂. Alternative methods of chemical synthesis are known (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,178; U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,614; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,797).

[0005] However, chemical synthesis of PHBA is problematic and costly due to the high energy needed for synthesis and the extensive purification of product required. An alternate low cost method with simplified purification would represent an advance in the art. Biological production offers one such low cost, simplified solution to this problem.

[0006] Microbiological methods of PHBA synthesis are known. For example, JP 06078780 teaches PHBA preparation by culturing benzoic acid in the presence of microorganisms (preferably Aspergillus) that oxidize benzoic acid to PHBA.

[0007] An alternate method of biological production is suggested by bacteria that have an enzymatic pathway for the degradation of toluene and other organics where PHBA is produced as an intermediate. The first enzyme in the toluene degradation pathway is toluene monooxygenase (TMO) and the pathway is referred to as the TMO pathway. The steps of the TMO pathway have been described (Whited and Gibson, J. Bacteriol. 173:3010-3020 (1991)) and are illustrated in FIG. 1. Bacteria that possess the toluene degradation pathway are found in the genus Pseudomonas where Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas mendocina are the most commonly utilized species. Other examples of aerobic bacteria that are known to degrade toluene are Burkholderia (Johnson et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol 63:4047-4052 (1997)), Mycobacterium (Stephen et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol 64:1715-1720 (1998)), Sphingomonas (Zylstra et al., J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 19:408-414 (1997)) and Rhodococcus (Kosono et al., Appl Environ. Microbiol. 63:3282-3285 (1997)). In addition, several different species of anaerobic bacteria are known to utilize toluene (Heider et al., Anarobe 3:1-22 (1997)). Toluene degradation pathways have been highly characterized (Romine et al., In Bioremediation of Chlorinated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds; Hinchee, R. E., Ed.; Lewis: Boca Raton, Fla., 1994; pp 271-276) and a number of the genes encoding key enzymes have been cloned and sequenced, including the protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase genes (Frazee, J. Bacteriol. 175(19):6194-6202 (1993)), the pcaR regulatory gene from Pseudomonas putida, which is required for the complete degradation of p-hydroxybenzoate (Romero-Steiner et al., J. Bacteriol. 176(18):5771-5779 (1994); Dimarco et al., J. Bacteriol. 176(14):4277-4284 (1994)) and the pobA gene encoding the expression of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH), the principal enzyme for the conversion of PHBA to protocatechuate (Wong et al., Microbiology (Reading U.K.) 140(10):2775-2786 (1994); Entsch et al., Gene 71(2):279-291 (1988)).

[0008] Bacteria that possess the TMO pathway are useful for degrading toluene and trichloroethylene. They are able to use these and other organics as sole carbon sources where they are transformed through PHBA to ring-opening degradation products (U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,495; U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,166; U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,143). By using the chromosomal TMO pathway, in combination with mutations that prevent PHBA degradation in Pseudomonas mendocina KR1, it has been shown that PHBA can be accumulated by oxidation of toluene (PCT/US98/12072).

[0009] Recently, various strains of Pseudomonas possessing the toluene degradation pathways have been used to produce muconic acid via manipulation of growth conditions (U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,863; U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,612). Additionally, strains of Enterobacter with the ability to convert p-cresol to PHBA have been isolated from soil (JP 05328981). Further, JP 05336980 and JP 05336979 disclose isolated strains of Pseudomonas putida with the ability to produce PHBA from p-cresol. Additionly, Miller and coworkers (Green Chem. 1(3):143-152 (1999)) have shown the bioconversion of toluene to PHBA via the construction of a recombinant Pseudomonas putida. Their initial catalyst development focused on Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 for production of PHBA from toluene. However, they were unable to obtain significant accumulation of PHBA from toluene using this strain. This result was due to their inability to obtain a sufficient disruption of PobA activity (the enzyme catalyzing m-hydroxylation of PHBA to protocatechuate in the protocatechuate branch of the p-ketoadipate pathway; see FIG. 1).

[0010] Although the presence of the TMO pathway in Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 has been documented (Wright and Olsen, Applied Environ. Microbiol. 60(1):235-242 (1994)), the art has not provided a molecular characterization and sequence of the pcu genes encoding the enzymes that transform p-cresol to PHBA in this organism. The art has also not provided bacterial host cells harboring novel recombinant plasmids encoding the enzymes of p-cresol to PHBA oxidation, together with operably-linked native promoter and regulatory sequences and proteins. Such bacterial host strains, if they lack the enzymes to degrade PHBA further, can accumulate PHBA when cultured in the presence of p-cresol.

[0011] As an alternative to culturing cells in the presence of p-cresol, the latter compound can be formed from toluene in cells that additionally harbor plasmid-encoded toluene monooxygenase. A bacterial strain harboring plasmid-encoded tmo and pcu operons has not been fully described in the art, particularly a strain that exceeds the production level of PHBA when compared to plasmid-free Pseudomonas mendocina KRI. In addition, expression of the tmo operon using its native toluene-induced promoter localized upstream of a tmox gene previously has not been known. Therefore, the problem to be solved is the lack of a fully characterized pcu operon and the availability of a bacterial strain harboring plasmid-encoded tmo and pcu operons to use for the bioproduction of PHBA.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention solves the problem of extensively characterizing the pcu operon by providing cloned, sequenced, and expressed genes of the pcu operon from Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 that can be transformed into and used to produce PHBA from p-cresol in Pseudomonas putida and Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains that do not normally possess this capability. In addition, transformation of the pcu operon into Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 supplements the endogenous pcu operon leading to an increase in PHBA production. This increase in PHBA production in Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 transformed with plasmid-encoded pcu is an improvement over PCT/US98/12072.

[0013] The present invention provides a method for the production of PHBA comprising: (i) culturing a Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium or related strain transformed with a pcu operon in a medium containing an aromatic organic substrate, at least one suitable fermentable carbon source, and a nitrogen source, wherein the supplied pcu operon comprises genes encoding the TMO toluene degradation pathway enzymes p-cresol methylhydroxylase and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase, the transcriptional activator PcuR, wherein the transformed Pseudomonas or Agrobacterium strain does not produce any detectable p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase, whereby PHBA accumulates; and (ii) recovering the PHBA.

[0014] The present invention also encompasses the combination of the pcu and tmo operons on a single replicon such that expression of tmo is obtained by transcription from a previously undisclosed toluene or p-cresol induced tmoX promoter, and expression of pcu is obtained by transcription using a previously undisclosed sequence encoding a transcriptional activator.

[0015] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the recombinant plasmid pMC4 in Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1. This strain synthesized the highest levels of tmo and pcu-encoded enzymes observed and is described herein.

[0016] It has also been found that the heterologous todST proteins that control the induction of toluene dioxygenase pathway induce high levels of expression from the tmo pathway genes, and are useful tools to mediate expression of the catabolic tmo genes and PHBA production in any organism that does not possess these genes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, SEQUENCE DESCRIPTIONS, AND BIOLOGICAL DEPOSITS

[0017] The invention can be more fully understood with reference to the drawings, from the detailed description, and the sequence descriptions which form part of this application.

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates the pathway of the toluene degradation in Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1.

[0019]FIG. 2 illustrates Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 pcu operon.

[0020]FIG. 3 illustrates Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 tmo operon.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates the pcu and tmo expression plasmid pMC4.

[0022]FIG. 5 illustrates pMIR30 and the strategy used for its construction.

[0023]FIG. 6 illustrates pMIR31 and the strategy used for its construction.

[0024]FIG. 7 illustrates pMIR44 and the strategy used for its construction.

[0025]FIG. 8 illustrates the cluster of tmo/pcu/pobA genes in Pseudomonas mendocina KR1.

[0026] The following 142 sequence descriptions contained in the sequences listing attached hereto comply with the rules governing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence disclosures in patent applications as set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.821-1.825 (“Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequences and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures—the Sequence Rules”) and are consistent with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standard ST2.5 (1998) and the sequence listing requirements of the EPO and PCT (Rules 5.2 and 49.5(a-bis), and Section 208 and Annex C of the Administration Instructions). The Sequence Descriptions contain the one letter code for nucleotide sequence characters and the three letter codes for amino acids as defined in conformity with the IUPAC-IYUB standards described in Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical Journal 219:345-373 (1984) which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0027] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleotide sequence of the pcu operon isolated from Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 (6491 bp).

[0028] SEQ ID NO: 2 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the transcriptional activator PcuR encoded by ORF1.1 (SEQ ID NO: 98).

[0029] SEQ ID NO: 3 is the deduced amino acid sequence of PcuC encoded by ORF1.2 (SEQ ID NO: 99) which has the enzyme activity of PHBAD.

[0030] SEQ ID NO: 4 is the deduced amino acid sequence of PcuA encoded by ORF1.3 (SEQ ID NO: 100) which has the enzyme activity of PCMH.

[0031] SEQ ID NO: 5 is the deduced amino acid sequence of PcuX encoded by ORF1.4 (SEQ ID NO: 101) which is an unidentified open reading frame and which may be an inner membrane protein.

[0032] SEQ ID NO: 6 is the predicted amino acid sequence of PcuB encoded by ORF1.5 (SEQ ID NO: 102) which has the enzyme activity of PCMH.

[0033] SEQ ID NOs: 7-77 are the nucleotide sequences of primers used for sequencing pcu.

[0034] SEQ ID NOs: 78-79 are the nucleotide sequences of primers used for cloning a Pseudomonas putida (NClMB 9869) pchC gene.

[0035] SEQ ID NOs: 80-90 are the nucleotide sequences of primers used for sequencing tmoX.

[0036] SEQ ID NO: 91 is the nucleotide sequence of the tmox gene and its 5'non-translated region from Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1.

[0037] SEQ ID NO: 92 is the deduced amino acid sequence of TmoX encoded by ORF2.1 (SEQ ID NO: 103).

[0038] SEQ ID NOs: 93-94 are the nucleotide sequences of primers used for cloning pcu for insertion into pMC3.

[0039] SEQ ID NOs: 95-96 are the nucleotide sequence of primers used for constructing plasmids pPCUR1 and pPCUR2.

[0040] SEQ ID NO: 97 is the nucleotide sequence of the primer used to map the transcript initiation site of tmoX.

[0041] SEQ ID NO: 98 is the nucleotide sequence of the transcriptional activator PcuR (ORF1.1).

[0042] SEQ ID NO: 99 is the nucleotide sequence of PcuC (ORF1.2).

[0043] SEQ ID NO: 100 is the nucleotide sequence of PcuA (ORF1.3).

[0044] SEQ ID NO: 101 is the nucleotide sequence of PcuX (ORF1.4).

[0045] SEQ ID NO: 102 is the nucleotide sequence of PcuB (ORF1.5).

[0046] SEQ ID NO: 103 is the nucleotide sequence of the tmox gene from Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 (ORF2.1).

[0047] SEQ ID NO: 104 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0048] SEQ ID NO: 105 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0049] SEQ ID NO: 106 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0050] SEQ ID NO: 107 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0051] SEQ ID NO: 108 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0052] SEQ ID NO: 109 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0053] SEQ ID NO: 110 is a primer used to identify the pobA gene.

[0054] SEQ ID NO: 111 is a primer used to identify the pobB gene.

[0055] SEQ ID NO: 112 is the nucleotide sequence of the todST genes.

[0056] SEQ ID NO: 113 is the nucleotide sequence of the tmoST genes (4821 bp).

[0057] SEQ ID NO: 114 is the nucleotide sequence of the tmoS gene.

[0058] SEQ ID NO: 115 is the nucleotide sequence of the tmoT gene.

[0059] SEQ ID NO: 116 is the deduced amino acid sequence of TmoS encoded by SEQ ID NO: 114 which has the enzyme activity of bZIP histidine kinase.

[0060] SEQ ID NO: 117 is the deduced amino acid sequence of TmoT encoded by SEQ ID NO: 115 which has the activity of a response regulator.

[0061] SEQ ID NO: 118-142 are the primer sequences used to sequence tmoST genes in pMIR60 (pUC18HindIII::insert HindIII of pMAX47-2)

[0062] Applicant has made the following biological deposits under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure: International Depositor Identification Depository Reference Designation Date of Deposit Pseudomonas ATCC 55885 11/26/96 mendocina KRC16KDpobA51

[0063] Depositor Identification International Reference Depository Date of Deposit Designation Pseudomonas ATCC 55885 11/26/96 mendocina KRC16KDpobA51

[0064] The Depositor has authorized the Applicant to refer to the deposited material in the application and has given his unreserved and irrevocable consent to the deposited material being made available to the public in accordance with Rule 28 of the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention (Rule 28(1)(d) EPC).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] PHBA is a valuable monomer for the synthesis of liquid crystalline polymers (LCP). Applicants have provided methods for the biological production of PHBA from genetically engineered Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, or related strains transformed with a pcu operon. The instant methods provide PHBA without the high energy cost of synthetic production and without producing toxic waste streams. Applicants have also provided a method for the biological production of p-cresol from genetically engineered Escherichia or Pseudomonas.

[0066] The following abbreviations and definitions will be used to interpret the specification and the claims.

[0067] “para-Hydroxybenzoic acid”, “para-hydroxybenzoate”, “p-hydroxy-benzoate” or “4-hydroxybenzoic acid” is abbreviated PHBA.

[0068] “para-Hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase” is abbreviated PHBH.

[0069] “Toluene-4-monooxygenase” is abbreviated TMO.

[0070] “para-Cresol methylhydroxylase” is abbreviated PCMH.

[0071] “para-Hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase” is abbreviated PHBAD.

[0072] “protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase β-chain” is abbreviated ligB.

[0073] “TnpA2* and TnpA3*” are abbreviated tnp.

[0074] “Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid” is abbreviated EDTA.

[0075] “Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside” is abbreviated IPTG.

[0076] “Shrimp alkaline phosphatase” is abbreviated SAP.

[0077] “Calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase” is abbreviated CIP.

[0078] “Phenazine ethosulfate” is abbreviated PES.

[0079] “2,6-Dichlorophenol-indophenol” is abbreviated DCPIP.

[0080] “SSC” is the abbreviation for 150 mM NaCl, 15 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0.

[0081] “TE” is the abbreviation for 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0.

[0082] The term “amp” refers to ampicillin.

[0083] The term “chl” refers to chloramphenicol.

[0084] The term “kan” refers to kanamycin.

[0085] The term “strep” refers to streptomycin.

[0086] The term “Pip” refers to peperacillan.

[0087] The term “tet” refers to tetracycline.

[0088] The term “strR” refers to a gene conferring resistance to streptomycin.

[0089] The terms “TMO degradative pathway” or “TMO enzymatic pathway” refer to the enzymes and genes encoding the enzymes found in some Pseudomonas bacteria that are responsible for the degradation of toluene, p-cresol and similar aromatic substrates. The TMO pathway is outlined in FIG. 1 and contains at least toluene-4-monooxygenase (TMO), p-cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH), p-hydroxybenzoaldehyde dehydrogenase (PHBAD), and p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH).

[0090] The term “aromatic organic substrate” refers to an aromatic compound that is degraded by the TMO enzymatic pathway. Typical examples of suitable aromatic substrates are toluene, p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzyl, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde.

[0091] TmoST gene refers to genes identified as tmoS and tmoT. These genes encode for TmoS and TmoT (TmoST) polypeptides (proteins). TmoS and TmoT proteins function as transcriptional activators of the promoter tmoXABCDEF operon.

[0092] The terms “plasmid”, “vector” and “cassette” refer to an extra chromosomal element often carrying genes which are not part of the central metabolism of the cell, and usually in the form of circular double-stranded DNA molecules. Such elements may be autonomously replicating sequences, genome-integrating sequences, phage or nucleotide sequences, linear or circular, of a single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA, derived from any source, in which a number of nucleotide sequences have been joined or recombined into a unique construction which is capable of introducing a promoter fragment and DNA sequence for a selected gene product along with appropriate 3′ untranslated sequence into a cell. “Transformation vector” refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene and having elements in addition to the foreign gene that facilitate transformation of a particular host cell.

[0093] An “isolated nucleic acid molecule” is a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. An isolated nucleic acid molecule in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA or synthetic DNA.

[0094] “Substantially similar” refers to nucleic acid molecules wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases result in substitution of one or more amino acids, but do not affect the functional properties of the protein encoded by the DNA sequence. “Substantially similar” also refers to nucleic acid molecules wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases do not affect the ability of the nucleic acid molecule to mediate alteration of gene expression by antisense or co-suppression technology. “Substantially similar” also refers to modifications of the nucleic acid molecules of the instant invention (such as deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotide bases) that do not substantially affect the functional properties of the resulting transcript vis-à-vis the ability to mediate alteration of gene expression by antisense or co-suppression technology or alteration of the functional properties of the resulting protein molecule. The, invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary sequences.

[0095] For example, it is well known in the art that alterations in a gene which result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site, but do not effect the functional properties of the encoded protein are common. For the purposes of the present invention substitutions are defined as exchanges within one of the following five groups:

[0096] 1. SmaIl aliphatic, nonpolar or slightly polar residues: Ala, Ser, Thr (Pro, Gly);

[0097] 2. Polar, negatively charged residues and their amides: Asp, Asn, Glu, Gln;

[0098] 3. Polar, positively charged residues: His, Arg, Lys;

[0099] 4. Large aliphatic, nonpolar residues: Met, Leu, Ile, Val (Cys); and

[0100] 5. Large aromatic residues: Phe, Tyr, Trp.

[0101] Thus, a codon for the amino acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue (such as glycine) or a more hydrophobic residue (such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine). Similarly, changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another (such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid) or one positively charged residue for another (such as lysine for arginine) can also be expected to produce a functionally equivalent product.

[0102] In many cases, nucleotide changes which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the protein molecule would also not be expected to alter the activity of the protein.

[0103] Each of the proposed modifications is well within the routine skill in the art, as is determination of retention of biological activity of the encoded products. Moreover, the skilled artisan recognizes that substantially similar sequences encompassed by this invention are also defined by their ability to hybridize, under stringent conditions (0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65° C. and washed with 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS), with the sequences exemplified herein. Preferred substantially similar nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention are those nucleic acid fragments whose DNA sequences are at least 80% identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein. More preferred nucleic acid fragments are at least 90% identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein. Most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that are at least 95% identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein.

[0104] A nucleic acid fragment is “hybridizable” to another nucleic acid fragment, such as a cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA, when a single stranded form of the nucleic acid fragment can anneal to the other nucleic acid fragment under the appropriate conditions of temperature and solution ionic strength. Hybridization and washing conditions are well known and exemplified in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor (1989), particularly Chapter 11 and Table 11.1 therein (entirely incorporated herein by reference). The conditions of temperature and ionic strength determine the “stringency” of the hybridization. For preliminary screening for homologous nucleic acids, low stringency hybridization conditions, corresponding to a Tm of 55°, can be used, e.g., 5×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 0.25% milk, and no formamide; or 30% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.5% SDS. Moderate stringency hybridization conditions correspond to a higher Tm, e.g., 40% formamide, with 5× or 6×SSC. Hybridization requires that the two nucleic acids contain complementary sequences, although depending on the stringency of the hybridization, mismatches between bases are possible. The appropriate stringency for hybridizing nucleic acids depends on the length of the nucleic acids and the degree of complementation, variables well known in the art. The greater the degree of similarity or homology between two nucleotide sequences, the greater the value of Tm for hybrids of nucleic acids having those sequences. The relative stability (corresponding to higher Tm) of nucleic acid hybridization decreases in the following order: RNA:RNA, DNA:RNA, DNA:DNA. For hybrids of greater than 100 nucleotides in length, equations for calculating Tm have been derived (see Sambrook et al., supra, 9.50-9.51). For hybridization with shorter nucleic acids, i.e., oligonucleotides, the position of mismatches becomes more important, and the length of the oligonucleotide determines its specificity (see Sambrook et al., supra, 11.7-11.8). In one embodiment the length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 10 nucleotides. Preferable a minimum length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 15 nucleotides; more preferably at least about 20 nucleotides; and most preferably the length is at least 30 nucleotides. Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize that the temperature and wash solution salt concentration may be adjusted as necessary according to factors such as length of the probe.

[0105] A “substantial portion” refers to an amino acid or nucleotide sequence which comprises enough of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide or the nucleotide sequence of a gene to afford putative identification of that polypeptide or gene, either by manual evaluation of the sequence by one skilled in the art, or by computer-automated sequence comparison and identification using algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al., J. Mol.Biol. 215:403-410 (1993); see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). In general, a sequence of ten or more contiguous amino acids or thirty or more nucleotides is necessary in order to putatively identify a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence as homologous to a known protein or gene. Moreover, with respect to nucleotide sequences, gene specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 20-30 contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques). In addition, short oligonucleotides of 12-15 bases may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid molecule comprising the primers. Accordingly, a “substantial portion” of a nucleotide sequence comprises enough of the sequence to afford specific identification and/or isolation of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the sequence. The instant specification teaches partial or complete amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more particular plant proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for the purpose known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.

[0106] The term “complementary” describes the relationship between nucleotide bases that are capable to hybridizing to one another. For example, with respect to DNA, adenosine is complementary to thymine and cytosine is complementary to guanine. Accordingly, the instant invention also includes isolated nucleic acid molecules that are complementary to the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing as well as those substantially similar nucleic acid sequences.

[0107] The term “percent identity”, as known in the art, is a relationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, “identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. “Identity” and “similarity” can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in: Computational Molecular Biology; Lesk, A. M., Ed.; Oxford University Press: New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects; Smith, D. W., Ed.; Academic Press: New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I; Griffin, A. M. and Griffin, H. G., Eds.; Humana Press: New Jersey, 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology; von Heinje, G., Ed.; Academic Press: New York, 1987; and Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., Eds.; Stockton Press: New York, 1991. Preferred methods to determine identity are designed to give the largest match between the sequences tested.

[0108] Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in publicly available computer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, the GCG Pileup program found in the GCG program package, using the Needleman and Wunsch algorithm with their standard default values of gap creation penalty=12 and gap extension penalty=4 (Devereux et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:387-395 (1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Pearson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444-2448 (1988). The BLASTX program is publicly available from NCBI and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul et al., Natl. Cent. Biotechnol. lnf., Natl. Library Med. (NCBI NLM) NIH, Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul et al., J. Mol Biol. 215:403-410 (1990); Altschul et al., “Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs”, Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997)). Another preferred method to determine percent identity, is by the method of DNASTAR protein alignment protocol using the Jotun-Hein algorithm (Hein et al., Methods Enzymol. 183:626-645 (1990)). Default parameters for the Jotun-Hein method for alignments are: for multiple alignments, gap penalty=11, gap length penalty=3; for pairwise alignments ktuple=6. As an illustration, by a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having at least, for example, 95% “identity” to a reference nucleotide sequence it is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence may occur at the 5′ or 3′ terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence. Analogously, by a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, for example, 95% identity to a reference amino acid sequence is intended that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another amino acid, or a number of amino acids up to 5% of the total amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

[0109] The term “percent homology” refers to the extent of amino acid sequence identity between polypeptides. When a first amino acid sequence is identical to a second amino acid sequence, then the first and second amino acid sequences exhibit 100% homology. The homology between any two polypeptides is a direct function of the total number of matching amino acids at a given position in either sequence, e.g., if half of the total number of amino acids in either of the two sequences are the same then the two sequences are said to exhibit 50% homology.

[0110] “Codon degeneracy” refers to divergence in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without effecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence encoding the PcuR, PcuC, PcuA, PcuX and PcuB proteins as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 through SEQ ID NO: 6, and also to any nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence encoding the TmoX protein as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 92. The skilled artisan is well aware of the “codon-bias” exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a gene for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the gene such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

[0111] “Synthetic genes” can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form gene segments which are then enzymatically assembled to construct the entire gene. “Chemically synthesized”, as related to a sequence of DNA, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of DNA may be accomplished using well established procedures, or automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. Accordingly, the genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell where sequence information is available.

[0112] “Gene” refers to a nucleic acid molecule that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5′ non-coding sequences) and following (3′ non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. “Native gene” refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences. “Chimeric gene” refers to any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. “Endogenous gene” refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism. A “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer. Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes. A “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.

[0113] “Coding sequence” refers to a DNA sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence.

[0114] “Suitable regulatory sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5′ non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3′ non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, and polyadenylation recognition sequences.

[0115] “Promoter” refers to a DNA sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA. In general, a coding sequence is located 3′ to a promoter sequence. The promoter sequence consists of proximal and more distal upstream elements, the latter elements often referred to as enhancers. An “enhancer” is a DNA sequence which can stimulate promoter activity and may be an innate element of the promoter or a heterologous element inserted to enhance the level or tissue-specificity of a promoter. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic DNA segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental conditions. Promoters which cause a gene to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as “constitutive promoters”. It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, DNA molecules of different lengths may have identical promoter activity.

[0116] The “translation leader sequence” refers to a DNA sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding sequence. The translation leader sequence is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation start sequence. The translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been described (Turner et al., Mol. Biotech. 3:225 (1995)).

[0117] The “3′ non-coding sequences” refer to DNA sequences located downstream of a coding sequence and include recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression. The use of different 3′ non-coding sequences is exemplified by lngelbrecht et al., Plant Cell 1:671-680 (1989).

[0118] “RNA transcript” refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence derived from posttranscriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the mature RNA. “Messenger RNA (mRNA)” refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into protein by the cell. “cDNA” refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to and derived from mRNA. “Sense” RNA refers to RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and so can be translated into protein by the cell. “Antisense RNA” refers to a RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065). The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific gene transcript, i.e., at the 5′ non-coding sequence, 3′ non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence. “Functional RNA” refers to antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that is not translated yet and has an effect on cellular processes.

[0119] The term “operably linked” refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences on a single nucleic acid molecule so that the function of one is affected by the other. For example, a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it affects the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., that the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.

[0120] The term “expression”, as used herein, refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid molecule of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide. “Antisense inhibition” refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of the target protein. “Overexpression” refers to the production of a gene product in transgenic organisms that exceeds levels of production in normal or non-transformed organisms. “Co-suppression” refers to the production of sense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of identical or substantially similar foreign or endogenous genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020).

[0121] “Altered levels” refers to the production of gene product(s) in organisms in amounts or proportions that are not characteristic of normal, wild-type, or non-transformed organisms. The altered level may be either an increase or decrease in the amount or proporiton of gene product relative to that produced by the normal, wild-type, or non-transformed organism.

[0122] “Mature” protein refers to a post-translationally processed polypeptide; i.e., one from which any pre- or propeptides present in the primary translation product have been removed. “Precursor” protein refers to the primary product of translation of mRNA; i.e., with pre- and propeptides still present. Pre- and propeptides may be but are not limited to intracellular localization signals.

[0123] A “fragment” constitutes a fraction of the DNA sequence of the particular region.

[0124] “Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into the genome of a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as “transgenic” or “recombinant” or “transformed” organisms.

[0125] The terms “plasmid”, “vector” and “cassette” refer to an extra chromosomal element often carrying genes which are not part of the central metabolism of the cell, and usually in the form of circular double-stranded DNA fragments. Such elements may be autonomously replicating sequences, genome integrating sequences, phage or nucleotide sequences, linear or circular, of a single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA, derived from any source, in which a number of nucleotide sequences have been joined or recombined into a unique construction which is capable of introducing a promoter fragment and DNA sequence for a selected gene product along with appropriate 3′ untranslated sequence into a cell. “Transformation cassette” refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene and having elements in addition to the foreign gene that facilitate transformation of a particular host cell. “Expression cassette” refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene and having elements in addition to the foreign gene that allow for enhanced expression of that gene in a foreign host.

[0126] The term “expression” refers to the transcription and translation to gene product from a gene coding for the sequence of the gene product. In the expression, a DNA chain coding for the sequence of gene product is first transcribed to a complimentary RNA which is often a messenger RNA and, then, the transcribed messenger RNA is translated into the above-mentioned gene product if the gene product is a protein.

[0127] The terms “restriction endonuclease” and “restriction enzyme” refer to an enzyme which binds and cuts within a specific nucleotide sequence within double-stranded DNA.

[0128] “Polymerase Chain Reaction” and “PCR” refer to a method that results in the linear or logarithmic amplification of nucleic acid molecules. PCR generally requires a replication composition consisting of, for example, nucleotide triphosphates, two primers with appropriate sequences, DNA or RNA polymerase and proteins. These reagents and details describing procedures for their use in amplifying nucleic acids are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 (1987, Mullis et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195 (1986, Mullis et al.).

[0129] The term “sequence analysis software” refers to any computer algorithm or software program that is useful for the analysis of nucleotide or amino acid sequences. “Sequence analysis software” may be commercially available or independently developed. Typical sequence analysis software will include but is not limited to the GCG suite of programs (Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, Wis.), BLASTP, BLASTN, BLASTX (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990), and DNASTAR (DNASTAR, Inc. 1228 S. Park St. Madison, Wis. 53715 USA), and the FASTA program incorporating the Smith-Waterman algorithm (W. R. Pearson, Comput. Methods Genome Res., [Proc. Int. Symp.] (1994), Meeting Date 1992, 111-20. Editor(s): Suhai, Sandor. Publisher: Plenum, New York, N.Y.). Within the context of this application it will be understood that where sequence analysis software is used for analysis, that the results of the analysis will be based on the “default values” of the program referenced, unless otherwise specified. As used herein “default values” will mean any set of values or parameters which originally load with the software when first initialized.

[0130] The term “carbon source” refers to a substrate suitable for bacterial cell growth that is distinct from the aromatic substrate. Suitable carbon substrates include but are not limited to glucose, succinate, lactate, acetate, ethanol, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, or mixtures thereof.

[0131] The term “suicide vector” refers to a vector generally containing a foreign DNA fragment to be expressed in a suitable host cell, coupled with a genetic element that will be lethal to the host cell unless the cell is able to express the foreign DNA. “Suicide vector” is also understood to mean a non-replicating vector capable of transfecting a host cell and facilitating the incorporation of foreign DNA into the genome of the host cell. Such a vector does not replicate and is thus destroyed after incorporation of the heterologous DNA. Examples of common suicide vectors and their construction may be found in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

[0132] The meaning of abbreviations is as follows: “h” means hour(s), “min” means minute(s), “sec” means second(s), “d” means day(s), “μL” means microliteres, “mL” means milliliters and “L” means liters.

[0133] The nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to isolate genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other microbial species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to, methods of nucleic acid hybridization, and methods of DNA and RNA amplification as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202), ligase chain reaction (LCR), Tabor, S. et al., Proc. Acad. Sci. USA 82,1074, (1985)) or strand displacement amplification (SDA, Walker, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89, 392, (1992)).

[0134] For example, genes encoding similar proteins or polypetides to those of the instant invention could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant nucleic acid fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired bacteria using methodology well known to those skilled in the art. Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis). Moreover, the entire sequences can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan such as random primers DNA labeling, nick translation, or end-labeling techniques, or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part of or full-length of the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full length DNA fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

[0135] Typically, in PCR-type amplification techniques, the primers have different sequences and are not complementary to each other. Depending on the desired test conditions, the sequences of the primers should be designed to provide for both efficient and faithful replication of the target nucleic acid. Methods of PCR primer design are common and well known in the art. (Thein and Wallace, “The use of oligonucleotide as specific hybridization probes in the Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders”, in Human Genetic Diseases: A Practical Approach, K. E. Davis Ed., (1986) pp. 33-50 IRL Press, Herndon, Va.); Rychlik, W. (1993) In White, B. A. (ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 15, pages 31-39, PCR Protocols: Current Methods and Applications. Humania Press, Inc., Totowa, N.J.).

[0136] Generally two short segments of the instant sequences may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. The polymerase chain reaction may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragments, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor encoding microbial genes.

[0137] Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al., PNAS USA 85:8998 (1988)) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3′ or 5′ end. Primers oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3′ RACE or 5′ RACE systems (BRL), specific 3′ or 5′ cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al., PNAS USA 86:5673 (1989); Loh et al., Science 243:217 (1989)).

[0138] Alternatively the instant sequences may be used as hybridization reagents for the identification of homologs. The basic components of a nucleic acid hybridization test include a probe, a sample suspected of containing the gene or gene fragment of interest, and a specific hybridization method. Probes of the present invention are typically single stranded nucleic acid sequences which are complementary to the nucleic acid sequences to be detected. Probes are “hybridizable” to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. The probe length can vary from 5 bases to tens of thousands of bases, and will depend upon the specific test to be done. Typically a probe length of about 15 bases to about 30 bases is suitable. Only part of the probe molecule need be complementary to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. In addition, the complementarity between the probe and the target sequence need not be perfect. Hybridization does occur between imperfectly complementary molecules with the result that a certain fraction of the bases in the hybridized region are not paired with the proper complementary base.

[0139] Hybridization methods are well defined. Typically the probe and sample must be mixed under conditions which will permit nucleic acid hybridization. This involves contacting the probe and sample in the presence of an inorganic or organic salt under the proper concentration and temperature conditions. The probe and sample nucleic acids must be in contact for a long enough time that any possible hybridization between the probe and sample nucleic acid may occur. The concentration of probe or target in the mixture will determine the time necessary for hybridization to occur. The higher the probe or target concentration the shorter the hybridization incubation time needed. Optionally a chaotropic agent may be added. The chaotropic agent stabilizes nucleic acids by inhibiting nuclease activity. Furthermore, the chaotropic agent allows sensitive and stringent hybridization of short oligonucleotide probes at room temperature [Van Ness and Chen (1991) Nucl. Acids Res. 19:5143-5151]. Suitable chaotropic agents include guanidinium chloride, guanidinium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, lithium tetrachloroacetate, sodium perchlorate, rubidium tetrachloroacetate, potassium iodide, and cesium trifluoroacetate, among others. Typically, the chaotropic agent will be present at a final concentration of about 3M. If desired, one can add formamide to the hybridization mixture, typically 30-50% (v/v).

[0140] Various hybridization solutions can be employed. Typically, these comprise from about 20 to 60% volume, preferably 30%, of a polar organic solvent. A common hybridization solution employs about 30-50% v/v formamide, about 0.15 to 1M sodium chloride, about 0.05 to 0.1M buffers, such as sodium citrate, Tris-HCl, PIPES or HEPES (pH range about 6-9), about 0.05 to 0.2% detergent, such as sodium dodecylsulfate, or between 0.5-20 mM EDTA, FICOLL (Pharmacia Inc.) (about 300-500 kilodaltons), polyvinylpyrrolidone (about 250-500 kdal), and serum albumin. Also included in the typical hybridization solution will be unlabeled carrier nucleic acids from about 0.1 to 5 mg/mL, fragmented nucleic DNA, e.g., calf thymus or salmon sperm DNA, or yeast RNA, and optionally from about 0.5 to 2% wt./vol. glycine. Other additives may also be included, such as volume exclusion agents which include a variety of polar water-soluble or swellable agents, such as polyethylene glycol, anionic polyme such as polyacrylate or polymethylacrylate, and anionic saccharidic polymers, such as dextran sulfate.

[0141] Nucleic acid hybridization is adaptable to a variety of assay formats. One of the most suitable is the sandwich assay format. The sandwich assay is particularly adaptable to hybridization under non-denaturing conditions. A primary component of a sandwich-type assay is a solid support. The solid support has adsorbed to it or covalently coupled to it immobilized nucleic acid probe that is unlabeled and complementary to one portion of the sequence.

[0142] Availability of the instant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences facilitates immunological screening DNA expression libraries. Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can be then be used to screen DNA expression libraries to isolate full-length DNA clones of interest (Lerner, R. A. Adv. Immunol. 36:1 (1984); Maniatis).

[0143] The genes and gene products of the instant sequences may be produced in heterologous host cells, particularly in the cells of microbial hosts. Expression in recombinant microbial hosts may be useful for the expression of various pathway intermediates; for the modulation of pathways already existing in the host for the synthesis of new products heretofore not possible using the host. Additionally the gene products may be useful for conferring higher growth yields of the host or for enabling alternative growth mode to be utilized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0144] TMO-Containing Bacterial Strains:

[0145] Bacterial cells preferred in the present invention are those that possesses the TMO pathway. Such strains are generally restricted to the genus Pseudomonas and include, but are not limited to, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas mendocina. Strains of Burkholderia and Acinetobacter are also suitable as host cells.

[0146] Strains of Pseudomonas containing the TMO pathway are known to oxidize toluene to form intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. PHBA as well as other intermediates, such as p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and p-hydroxybenzadehyde, are formed in the upper pathway, which metabolizes toluene to the ring cleavage substrate (FIG. 1). In wildtype Pseudomonas strains, PHBA is immediately converted to protocatechuate (PCA) as it is formed. The biochemistry of the enzymes involved in the upper pathway have been described for several Pseudomonas strains (Romine et al., supra).

[0147] In addition, the homologous TmoST proteins encoded in P. mendocina KR1 that control the induction of the toluene monooxygenase pathway induce high levels of expression from the tmo pathway genes, in the presence of toluene, and are also useful tools to mediate expression of the catabolic tmo genes and PHBA production in any organism that does not possess these genes

[0148] Batch and Continuous Fermentations:

[0149] The present process uses a batch method of fermentation. A classical batch fermentation is a closed system where the composition of the medium is set at the beginning of the fermentation and not subjected to artificial alterations during the fermentation. Thus, at the beginning of the fermentation the medium is inoculated with the desired organism or organisms and fermentation is permitted to occur adding nothing to the system. Typically, however, a batch fermentation is “batch” with respect to the addition of carbon source and attempts are often made at controlling factors such as pH and oxygen concentration. In batch systems the metabolite and biomass compositions of the system change constantly up to the time the fermentation is stopped. Within batch cultures, cells moderate through a static lag phase to a high growth log phase and finally to a stationary phase where growth rate is diminished or halted. If untreated, cells in the stationary phase will eventually die.

[0150] A variation on the standard batch system is the fed-batch system. Fed-batch fermentation processes are also suitable in the present invention and comprise a typical batch system with the exception that the substrate is added in increments as the fermentation progresses. Fed-batch systems are useful when catabolite repression is apt to inhibit the metabolism of the cells and where it is desirable to have limited amounts of substrate in the medium. An advantage of the fed-batch system is that it is more amenable to the use of toxic or immiscible aromatic substrates such as toluene or p-cresol. Using a fed-batch system it is possible to maintain a steady concentration of substrate at non-toxic levels while accommodating maximum bioconversion of the substrate to product.

[0151] The production of PHBA from aromatic compounds such as toluene or p-cresol will be limited by the amount of the aromatic substrate and carbon sources added. In simple batch fermentation, production will be limited by the amount of toluene initially added. Since toluene is toxic and has limited solubility in water, its low initial concentration will govern the amount of PHBA produced. The ability to run the process at such a low toluene (i.e., 30-60 ppm) allows operation below a lower explosive limit which for toluene is 120 ppm. This low limit is a clear safety advantage to the process. Fed-batch techniques where the carbon source and toluene are added at rates which are similar to the utilization of these compounds will keep the toluene concentration in the medium low and can significantly increase the amount of PHBA produced.

[0152] Batch and fed-batch fermentations are common and well known in the art and examples may be found in, for example Brock, Thomas D. In Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2nd ed.; Sinauer Associates, Inc.: Sunderland, Mass., 1989 or Deshpande, Mukund V. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol 36:227 (1992).

[0153] Although the present invention is performed in batch mode, it is contemplated that the method would be adaptable to continuous fermentation methods. Continuous fermentation is an open system where a defined fermentation medium is added continuously to a bioreactor and an equal amount of conditioned medium is removed simultaneously for processing. Continuous fermentation generally maintains the cultures at a constant high density where cells are primarily in log phase growth.

[0154] Continuous fermentation allows for the modulation of one factor or any number of factors that affect cell growth or end product concentration. For example, one method will maintain a limiting nutrient such as the carbon source or nitrogen source at low concentration and allow all other parameters to be in excess. In other systems a number of factors affecting growth can be altered continuously while the cell concentration, measured by medium turbidity, is kept constant. Continuous systems strive to maintain steady state growth conditions and thus the cell loss due to medium being drawn off must be balanced against the cell growth rate in the fermentation. Methods of modulating nutrients and growth factors for continuous fermentation processes as well as techniques for maximizing the rate of product formation are well known in the art of industrial microbiology and a variety of methods are detailed by Brock, supra.

[0155] It is contemplated that the present invention may be practiced using either batch, fed-batch or continuous processes and that any known mode of fermentation would be suitable. Additionally, it is contemplated that cells may be immobilized on a substrate as whole cell catalysts and subjected to fermentation conditions for PHBA production.

[0156] Carbon Source

[0157] A variety of carbon sources are suitable in the present invention and include but are not limited to materials (such as succinate, lactate, acetate, ethanol), monosaccharides (such as glucose and fructose), oligosaccharides (such as lactose or sucrose), polysaccharides (such as starch or cellulose), or mixtures thereof and unpurified mixtures from renewable feedstocks (such as cheese whey permeate, cornsteep liquor, sugar beet molasses, and barley malt). The needs of the desired production cell dictate the choice of the carbon substrate. For the purposes of the present invention, glucose is preferred.

[0158] Aromatic Substrates

[0159] A variety of aromatic substrates may be used in the present invention, including but not limited to toluene, p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and any aromatic compounds where the chemical structure is similar to toluene and the intermediates of the TMO pathway (i.e., compounds that are subject to degradation by the TMO pathway).

[0160] The concentration of the aromatic substrate (such as toluene and p-cresol) and of the carbon source in the medium are limiting factors for the production of PHBA. Preferred concentrations of toluene are from about 30 ppm to about 500 ppm where a range of about 30 ppm to about 60 ppm is most preferred. There are tolerant strains that can ferment toluene at >500 ppm and there are sensitive strains that may operate at a more suitable range of 1-5 ppm. The preferred concentration of p-cresol for Pseudomonas mendocina is from about 1 mM to about 5 mM. More tolerant strains are expected as well as more sensitive strains. The p-cresol concentration needs to be adjusted accordingly.

EXAMPLES

[0161] The present invention is further defined in the following Examples. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

[0162] Procedures for the genetic manipulations of cellular genomes are well known in the art. Techniques suitable for use in the following examples may be found in Sambrook, J. In Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989.

[0163] Materials and methods suitable for the maintenance and growth of bacterial cultures are well known in the art. Techniques suitable for use in the following examples may be found in Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology; Phillipp Gerhardt, R. G. E. Murray, Ralph N. Costilow, Eugene W. Nester, Willis A. Wood, Noel R. Krieg and G. Briggs Phillips, Eds.; American Society for Microbiology: Washington, D.C., 1994 or Brock, Thomas D. In Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2nd ed.; Sinauer Associates, Inc.: Sunderland, Mass., 1989. All reagents and materials used for the growth and maintenance of bacterial cells were obtained from Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, Wis.), DIFCO Laboratories (Detroit, Ml), GIBCO/BRL (Gaithersburg, Md.), or Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.) unless otherwise specified.

[0164] Materials and Growth Conditions

[0165] Cell Strains and Plasmids

[0166] For General Use

[0167]Escherichia coli DH5α (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), Escherichia coli DH10B (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.), Escherichia coli JM105 (ATCC 47016), Escherichia coli Top10′ (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008), Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MR (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.), Escherichia coli XL2 Blue (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) and Escherichia coli HB101 (Boyer and Roulland-Dussoix, J. Mol Biol 41(3): 459-472 (1969)).

[0168] Sources of DNA for Cloning

[0169]Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,684; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 (ATCC 55885) (PCT/US98/WO 12072; DuPont, Wilmington, Del.), Pseudomonas putida (NClMB 9869) and Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (ATCC 47054).

[0170] For Plasmid Mobilization

[0171]Escherichia coli S17-1 (ATCC 47055), Escherichia coli HB101 (pRK600) (de Lorenzo & Timmis, Methods Enzymol. 235: 236-405 (1994)), and Escherichia coli CC118 λpir (Herrero et al., J Bacteriol, 172(11): 6557-6567 (1990)).

[0172] For pcuC::iacZ Expression

[0173]Escherichia coli MC1061 (CGSC 6649).

[0174] For tmo::iacZ Expression

[0175]Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (Franklin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78(12): 7458-7462 (1981)).

[0176] For p-Cresol Production

[0177]Escherichia coli G1724 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), Escherichia coli JM105 (ATCC 47016) and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 29607).

[0178] For PHBA Production

[0179]Agrobacterium rhizogenes (ATCC 15834), Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 (ATCC 55885) (PCT/US98/12072; DuPont, Wilmington, Del. and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 29607).

[0180] For tmo and pcu-Encoded Enzyme Synthesis

[0181]Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1 (Ramos et al., J. Bact. 177(14):3911-3916 (1995)). Pseudomonas putida DOT-TI C5aAR1 has mutations that inactivate toluene dioxygenase. Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1 E (CECT 5312).

[0182] “ATCC” refers to the American Type Culture Collection international depository located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, U.S.A. The designations refer to the accession number of the deposited material.

[0183] “CGSC” refers to the E. coli Genetic Stock Center located at 355 Osborn Memorial Laboratories, Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 06520-8104. The designations refer to the accession number of the deposited material.

[0184] “NCCB” refers to the Netherlands Culture Collection of Bacteria, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.056, 3508 TB Utrecht, the Netherlands. The designations refer to the accession number of the deposited material.

[0185] “NClMB” refers to the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Ltd located at 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB2 1RY, U.K. The designations refer to the accession number of the deposited material.

[0186] Growth Conditions

[0187] Typically, studies were conducted by shaking cultures in 125 mL or 250 mL flasks. Experiments using toluene were conducted in 125 mL sealed flasks. Minimal (lean) medium with glucose as the carbon source and ammonia as the nitrogen source was used most extensively. Yeast extract, when added to obtain a “rich” medium, was at 0.5-1.0 g/L. Some of the PHBA production examples included two stages, where the cells were first grown to a suitable cell density in minimal medium containing glucose, followed by transfer to a production medium containing an aromatic substrate for PHBA production. Culture conditions were modulated according to the method of growth and optimized for the production of PHBA. The pH of the cultures should be maintained within a range of about from 6.3 to 7.9. A range of about 7.2 to 7.7 is most preferred. Other media amenable to the procedures of the present invention are common in the art and are fully described in Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology (P. Gerhardt, R. G. E. Murray, R. N. Costilow, E. W. Nester, W. A. Wood, N. R. Krieg and G. B. Phillips, Eds.; American Society for Microbiology: Washington, D.C., 1994).

Example 1 Cloning and Sequencing of the Pseudomonas mendocina pcu Operon Preparation of genomic DNA

[0188]Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 (ATCC 55885) containing an omega-disrupted pobA-1 gene was used as the source of genomic DNA. The cells of a 50 mL overnight stationary phase culture were collected by centrifugation at 6,000 rpm, 4° C. for 10 min. The supernatant was decanted and the pellets resuspended with 5 mL TEG (25 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM EDTA, 50 mM glucose, pH 8.0). About 1.5 mL of RNAse (100 μg/mL) was added into the mixture. The sample was kept at room temperature for 5 min, and then extracted twice with an equal volume of phenol. The two phases were separated by a centrifugation at 6,000 rpm for 10 min. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with phenol:chloroform (1:1). Two volumes of 100% ethanol were added to the aqueous phase to precipitate DNA. After 20 min the solution was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm, and the pellet was collected, dried, and resuspended in 2 to 5 mL TE buffer. The DNA sample was dialyzed against TE buffer at 4° C. overnight.

[0189] Construction of a Genomic Library

[0190] 10 μg of genomic DNA was digested with 100 units of BstYl restriction endonuclease at 60° C., and samples removed at 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min intervals in order to obtain partially digested DNA. The pooled partial digests were treated with phenol:chloroform (1:1), chloroform, and two volumes ethanol added to precipitate the DNA. Resuspended DNA (1.6 μg) was ligated at 4° C. overnight using T4 DNA ligase and<1 μg SuperCos 1 (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) that had been digested with XbaI, dephosphorylated with CIP, and then digested with BamHI. Each enzyme treatment was followed by extraction with equal volumes of phenol:chloroform (1:1), chloroform, and precipitated with 2 volumes of ethanol. Ligated DNA was recovered in bacteriophage lambda by in vitro packaging using a Gigapack II Gold Packaging Extract (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.).

[0191] Selection of Clones with a pobA-1 Omega Insert

[0192]Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MR cells were infected with the packaged cosmid library and plated on LB medium containing 50 mg/L amp and 25 mg/L strep, and cultured at 37° C. overnight. As a control, part of the packaged library was plated on LB medium containing 50 mg/L amp to determine total number of cosmid containing cells. About 1% of the amp resistant colonies were also strep resistant, and these represented clones that had acquired the omega-inactivated (strR) pobA-1 gene.

[0193] Restriction and Hybridization Analysis of strR Cosmids

[0194] Plasmids were isolated from 5 mL cultures of strR clones using an alkaline lysis method (Birnboim et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 7(6):1513-1523 (1979)). The plasmids were digested with the restriction enzymes HindIII or ClaI and fragments separated by electrophoresis overnight on a 0.7% agarose gel in TBE buffer (89 mM Tris-borate, 89 mM boric acid, 2 mM EDTA). Cosmids were identified by the presence of a 14 kb HindIII fragment, or a 12.5 kb ClaI fragment as predicted (Wright et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol 60(1):235-242 (1994)). DNA was transferred from the agarose gel to a GeneScreen Plus nylon membrane (NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.) using a VacuGene XL system (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.). Depurination of DNA in the gel with 0.25 M HCl for 7 min was followed by denaturation with 1.5 M NaCl+0.5 M NaOH for 7 min, neutralization with 1.0 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5+1.5 M NaCl for 7 min, and transfer to membrane in 20×SSC for 30 min. The nylon membrane was removed, washed in 0.4 M NaOH (1 min), in 0.2 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5+1×SSC (1 min), in 2×SSC (1 min), for about 2 min to produce nucleic acid crosslinking.

[0195] The membrane was prehybridized for 1 h at 65° C. in a hybridization solution containing 5×SSC, 0.1% (w/v) SDS, 0.5% (w/v) blocking reagent (NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.) and 5% (w/v) Dextran Sulfate. The hybridization probe was a heterologous sequence for the cytochrome c subunit of PCMH from Pseudomonas putida NClMB 9869. The cytochrome c subunit gene (pcuC) was cloned from DNA purified from Pseudomonas putida NClMB 9869 by CsCl-ethidium bromide centrifugation (Pemberton et al., J. Bact. 114(1):424-433 (1973)), and amplified by PCR using primers (SEQ ID NO: 78 and SEQ ID NO: 79) based on the published sequence (Kim et al., J. Bact. 176(20):6349-6361 (1994)). The 100 μL PCR reaction mixture contained: 0.5 mM dNTPs, reaction buffer (final concentration of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, and 0.01 % gelatin), 0.1 mg of Pseudomonas putida genomic DNA, and 1 unit of Taq DNA polymerase. The DNA sample was denatured at 94° C. for 1 min, and annealed at 50° C. for 2 min. Polymerization was performed at 74° C. for 2 min with an increased extention time of 5 sec per cycle. The polymerase chain reaction was accomplished by 25 cycles. The PCR DNA fragment was detected and analyzed by electrophoresis on 1% agarose gels with 0.5 mg/L ethidium bromide, and cloned into the vector pUC18 (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.).

[0196] For ease of identification, the pcuC DNA was labeled with a fluorescein nucleotide in a 30 μL reaction mixture containing a random primer, reaction buffer, fluorescein nucleotide mix (NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.) and Klenow enzyme at 37° C. for 1 h. The labeled probe was then hybridized to the membrane-bound genomic DNA in the same buffer for 16 h at 65° C.

[0197] After hybridization, the membrane was washed for 15 min in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, followed by a second 15 min wash in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. The membrane was blocked for 1 h in buffer containing 0.5% blocking reagent and then incubated with antifluorescein-horse radish peroxidase conjugate (1:1000) (NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.) at room temperature for 1 h.

[0198] After the incubation the membranes were washed four times for 5 min with 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 0.15 M NaCl, and incubated in a chemiluminescence reagent (Renaissance nucleic acid chemiluminescent reagent, NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.) for 1 min at room temperature, and then exposed to Reflection autoradiography film (NEN Life Science Products, Boston, Mass.). Those clones having both the correct restriction pattern with HindIII or ClaI, and which hybridized to the pcuC probe, were selected for sub-cloning and sequencing.

[0199] Subcloning and Sequencing

[0200] A strR cosmid was digested with HindIII and the ˜14 kb insert isolated from a 0.8% agarose gel using the DNA preparation kit GeneClean (Biol 01, Vista, Calif.). The isolated fragment was cloned into the HindIII site of the vector pZErO-1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), transformed into Escherichia coli Top 10 F′, and selected on LB medium containing 50 mg/L zeocin. Zeocin-resistant clones were screened by digestion of plasmid minipreps with HindIII, BamHI, SalI/BamHI, ClaI/SphI, and SphI. A plasmid with a digestion pattern indicating that the pcu-encoded enzymes were oriented for transcription by the lac promoter of pZErO-1 was designated pPCU1, and a plasmid with the opposite orientation was designated pPCU2.

[0201] A 3.5 kb NruI/EcoRI fragment was isolated from pPCU1, and a BamHI adaptor (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.) annealed and ligated to 2 μg of fragment in a 20 μL reaction containing 2 mM adaptor at 16° C. for 16 h. Following a phenol:chloroform (1:1) extraction and ethanol precipitation, the DNA was dissolved in 12 μL TE, digested with BamHI for 5 h, and purified by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel and isolated with GeneClean as before. The BamHI/EcoRI fragment was cloned into the EcoRI/BamHI digested vector pK194 (ATCC 37767) to yield plasmid pPCU3. The complete sequence of the pcu operon is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and the nucleotide sequences for the transcriptional activator PcuR (SEQ ID NO: 98), PHBAD (SEQ ID NO: 99), the two subunits of PCMH (SEQ ID NO: 100 and SEQ ID NO: 102), and an unidentified open reading frame (SEQ ID NO: 101). Also given are the predicted amino acid sequences for the transcriptional activator PcuR (SEQ ID NO: 2), PHBAD (SEQ ID NO: 3), the two subunits of PCMH (SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6), and an unidentified open reading frame (SEQ ID NO: 5). The DNA was sequenced with synthetic primers (SEQ ID NO: 7 to SEQ ID NO: 77) according to standard methods.

[0202] Identification of the PHBAD and PCMH coding sequences was based on percent homolgy to the corresponding predicted amino acid sequences for these enzymes from Pseudomonas putida NClMB 9866 and 9869 (Kim et al., supra; Cronin et al., DNA Sequence 10(1):7-17 (1999)). Identification of the PcuR transcriptional activator was based on homology to the predicted amino acid sequence of the TbuT transcriptional activator of Ralstonia pickettii (Olsen et al., J. Bacteriol 176(12):3749-3756 (1994)). Based on the work of Cronin et al. (supra), the unidentified open reading frame (SEQ ID NO: 5) may be an inner membrane protein. Their analysis by PSORT for the Pseudomonas putida protein predicts it to be an inner membrane protein, and analysis by TMpred predicts it to have one or two transmembrane helices, with the bulk of the protein lying on the cytoplasmic side in either situation. The arrangement of genes in the pcu operon is illustrated in FIG. 2. The best homologies to each ORF, and thus their putative function in the pcu operon, are listed in Table 1. TABLE 1 SEQ ID SEQ ID % % E- ORF Similarity Identified base Peptide Identity^(a) Similarity^(b) value^(c) Citation 1.1 gi|1657782 98 2 48% 63% 1e-143 J. Bacteriol. 176 (12), 3749- transcriptional activator TbuT (Ralstonia 3756 (1994) pickettii) 1.2 gb|AAA75634.2| 99 3 75% 83% DNA Seq. 10 (1), 7-17 (1999) p-hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase (Pseudomonas putida) 1.3 gb|AAA80319.2| 100 4 60% 74% 3e-25 DNA Seq. 10 (1), 7-17 (1999) p-cresol methylhydroxylase, cytochrome subunit precursor (Pseudomonas putida) 1.4 gb|AAD29836.1|U96338_3 101 5 46% 61% 5e-36 DNA Seq. 10 (1), 7-17 (1999) unknown (Pseudomonas putida) 1.5 gb|AAA80318.2| 102 6 78% 88% DNA Seq. 10 (1), 7-17 (1999) p-cresol methylhydroxylase, flavoprotein subunit (Pseudomonas putida) 2.1 emb|CAB43725.1| 103 92 81% 87% Gene 232, 69-76 (1999) membrane protein (Pseudomonas putida) tmoS emb|CAB43735.1| 114 116 83% 89% Gene 232, 69-76 (1999) bZIP histidine kinase (Pseudomonas putida) tmoT emb|CAB43736.1| 115 117 85% 93% Gene 232, 69-76 (1999) response regulator (Pseudomonas putida)

Example 2 Cloning the Pseudomonas mendocina tmo Operon

[0203]Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 was the source of total genomic DNA, and it was isolated as described before for Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51(ATCC 55885). Total genomic DNA was digested with SstI+XmaI, separated on a 0.8% low-melting agarose gel, and fragments in the 5-7 kb size range recovered. The purified DNA was ligated to the vector pUC18 that had been digested with SstI+XmaI, and the ligated DNA transformed into Escherichia coil JM105. Clones were selected on LB plates containing amp (100 mg/L) and 10 mM tryptophan. Escherichia coli is able to produce indole from tryptophan using tryptophanase, and the tmo-encoded toluene monooxygenase converts the indole to cis-indole-2,3-dihydrodiol, which then forms indoxyl through the spontaneous elimination of water, and is then oxidized by air to indigo. An indigo-producing colony was isolated and the correctly configured plasmid identified as pTMO1.

Example 3 Construction of pcu and pcultmo Expression Plasmids

[0204] Construction of the pcu Plasmid pPCU12

[0205] pPCUI was digested with NruI+ApaI and a 2.4 kb fragment was isolated by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel and purified using a GeneClean kit, then ligated to the SmaI+ApaI digested vector pGadGH (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). The ligation was transformed into competent Escherichia coli strain DH5α, and transformants were isolated on LB+amp (100 mg/L) plates. The correct construct, which was identified by the band patterns produced with HindIII+BamHI or BamHI+SalI digests, was named pPCU9.5. Next, a 2.6 kb ApaI fragment was isolated from pPCU1 by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel followed by purification with GeneClean as before. This fragment was cloned into ApaI-digested pPCU9.5 which had also been treated with CIP. Clones containing the inserted fragment were distinguished by digestion with ApaI and detected the presence of the 2.6 kb fragment. The orientation of the insert was determined by the fragmentation pattern of a BgIII digest. The plasmid with the pattern indicating a complete pcu operon was named pPCU10.

[0206] The ˜5 kb BamHI+HindIII fragment from pPCU10 was isolated as before and ligated into the BamHI+HindIII sites in the vector pK184 (ATCC 37766). The ligation was transformed into ultracompetent XL2 Blue cells. Transformants were selected using LB+kan (50 mg/L) plates. EcoRI and BgIII digests were used to determine the correct construct, which was named pPCU11. The 5 kb BamHI+HindIII fragment was isolated from pPCU11 as described above, and the single-stranded ends were converted to double strands with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I. The vector pRK310 (Ditta et al.,Plasmid 13:149-153 (1985)) was digested with HindIII, and the single-stranded ends were also treated with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase 1 and then phosphatased with CIP. The two fragments were ligated together and electroporated into Electromax DH10B cells. Colonies with plasmids were selected on LB +tet (12.5 mg/L) plates. EcoRI and SalI digests of plasmids from the colonies were used to identify a clone of the correct construction, named pPCU12.

[0207] Construction of the pcu Plasmid pPCU18

[0208] A 7.5 kb MluI+NheI pPCU1 fragment was isolated through agarose gel electroporesis followed by purification with GeneClean. It was ligated into the MluI+NheI sites of plasmid pSL1180 (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.). The ligation was transformed into competent DH5αcells. Transformants were identified by growth on LB+amp (100 mg/L) plates. SalI digests indicated the correct construct, which was named pPCU17. Plasmid pPCU17 was digested with BamHI+HindIII, and the 7.5 kb piece of DNA with the pcu genes was isolated as described earlier. The fragment was cloned into the BamHI+HindIII sites of the vector pGV1120 (Leemans et al., Gene 19:361-364 (1982)). Electrocompetent Pseudomonas putida strain DOT-T1 C5aAR1 cells were electroporated with the ligated DNA. Cells were selected on LB+strep (50 mg/L) plates at 30° C. overnight. Plasmids were isolated from clones grown on the plates and digested with EcoRI. The plasmid with the correct digest pattern was named pPCU18.

[0209] Construction of pcuC::IacZ Fusion Plasmids pPCUR1 and pPCUR

[0210] The non-translated pcu promoter region between pcuR and pcuC was amplified by PCR in order to construct a IacZ fusion to examine regulation of the pcu operon. The reaction contained the following: 0.5 μL pPCU1 (0.8 μg/μL),1 μL primer PCUR1L (10 pmol/μL) (SEQ ID NO: 95), 1 μL primer PCUR2L (10 pmol/μL) (SEQ ID NO: 96), 33.3 μL water, 2.2 μL 25 mM Mg(OAc)₂, 1 μL 10 mM dNTPs, 10 μL 5×GC Genomic PCR Reaction Buffer, and 1 μL Advantage-GC Genomic Polymerase Mix (50×). The last four components were from the Advantage-GC Genomic PCR Kit (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). The reaction was put through the following thermocycles: 1 min at 94° C., then 30 cycles of 30 sec at 94° C., 4 min at 68° C., and incubation at 4° C. overnight. The PCR product was purified using GeneClean, digested with BamHI and isolated as a 2.4 kb fragment following electrophoresis on a 0.6% agarose gel. The fragment was ligated to the vector pMC1403 (NCCB no. PC-V3088), which had been digested with BamHI and dephosphorylated with SAP. The ligation was transformed into competent Escherichia coli MC1061 cells. Transformants were selected on LB+Amp (100 mg/L) plates. The orientation of the insert in the vector was determined by SstI and PstI digests, and a plasmid where the ribosome binding site and AUG initiation codon from pcuC was fused to the lac operon was named pPCUR1. A control plasmid with the PCR product cloned in the opposite orientation was named pPCUR2.

[0211] Construction of the tmo Plasmid pTMO3

[0212] The vector pLEX (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif. ) was digested with SphI+SstI and ligated to a 6 kb tmo fragment from pTMO1 (FIG. 3) digested with the same enzymes. Ligated DNA was transformed into Escherichia coli strain G1724 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and selected on LB+amp (100 mg/L). A plasmid with tmo under the transcriptional control of the P_(L) promoter was designated pTMO3.

[0213] Construction of the tmo Plasmid pTMO9

[0214] Plasmid pTMO1 was digested with HindIII+BgIII. The 960 bp fragment was isolated and purified with GeneClean, and ligated to HindIII+BgIII cut plasmid pSL1180 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). The ligation was used to transform competent Escherichia coli XL2 Blue cells, which were then incubated on LB+amp (100 mg/L) plates. HindIII digests and NcoI digests of the plasmids from transformants identified those with the correct insert. A correct plasmid was named pTMO6. The 960 bp SmaI+HindIII fragment from pTMO6 was isolated and purified as before and ligated to the vector pMMB208 (ATTC 37810) which had been digested with SmaI+HindIII. Competent XL1 Blue cells were transformed with the ligated DNA and spread onto LB+chI (50 mg/L) plates. HindIII+SstI digests of plasmids from transformants were used to determine clones with the proper constructs, which were named pTMO7. Next, a 5 kb piece of DNA was isolated from pTMO1 by BgIII+BamHI digestion and inserted into the BamHI site of pTMO7. The ligated DNA was transformed into competent XL1 Blue cells, which were then spread onto LB+chI (50 mg/L) plates and incubated at 37° C. until colonies were apparent. After a few days at 4° C., some of the colonies on the plates developed an indigo-blue color. Plasmids were isolated from indigo-blue colonies and digested with HindIII to confirm the presence of a correctly constructed plasmid, which was named pTMO8. The 1.2 kb kan resistance marker from pUC4K (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) was isolated by EcoRI digestion, gel electrophoresis, and GeneClean purification. It was ligated to EcoRI cut and SAP treated pTMO8, then transformed into competent XL1 Blue cells. The correct plasmid from a clone that grew on LB +kan (50 mg/L)+chl (50 mg/L) plates was named pTMO9.

[0215] Construction of the tmo Plasmids pTMO17 and pTMO18

[0216] A BamHI digest of pTMO11 and a BgIII digest of the vector pGV1 120 (Leemans et al., Gene 19:361-364 (1982)) were electrophoresed on a 0.8% agarose gel. The 6 kb pTMO11 fragment and the vector fragment were excised and purified using a GeneClean kit. The two pieces were ligated together, transformed into competent Escherichia coil DH5α cells, and spread onto LB+tet (10 mg/L) plates. The plasmids from selected colonies were digested with HindIII, and one with the correct pattern of bands was named pTMO17.

[0217] A 7.5 kb BamHI pTMO15 fragment and a BgIII fragment from the vector pGV1120 were gel-purified as described earlier. They were ligated together, transformed into Escherichia coli, and plated on LB+tet (10 mg/L) plates. HindIII digests of the plasmids from transformants were used to identify constructs containing the tmo operon, and a correctly configured plasmid was named pTMO18.

[0218] Construction of the Expression Plasmid pMC3 Containing pcu and tmo

[0219] The pcu operon (pcuC through pcuB) was amplified in a PCR reaction containing 4 μL dNTPs (2.5 mM), primer PCUAMP1 (10 pmol/μL) (SEQ ID NO: 93), primer PCUAMP2 (10 pmol/μL) (SEQ ID NO: 94), 30.7 μL water, 0.3 μL pPCU10 (0.3 μg), 2 μL Buffer A, 8 μL Buffer B, and 1 μL Elongase (the last 3 components were from the Elongase amplification system (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). The cycles used were as follows: 30 sec at 94° C., then 35 cycles of (45 sec at 94° C., 30 sec at 55° C., 5 min at 68° C.), finally 4° C. overnight. The ˜5.5 kb product was purified using a GeneClean kit, digested with HindIII, isolated from a 0.8% agarose gel, and purified again with GeneClean. This fragment was inserted into a HindIII digested and phosphatased (using CIP) pUC18 vector. The ligation was transformed into competent Escherichia coli XL1 Blue cells, and transformants were selected on LB+amp (100 mg/L)+IPTG (1 mM)+X-gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactoside) (50 mg/L) plates. White colonies indicated the presence of an insert in the vector. The correct construct, which was named pPCU14, was found by observing HindIII digest patterns of the plasmids isolated from white transformants. Orientation of the inserts was determined by PstI digest patterns.

[0220] To remove the BamHI site in vector pRK310, the single-stranded ends created by a BamHI digest of pRK310 were removed using mung bean nuclease. The vector was then allowed to self-ligate and the product was electroporated into Escherichia coli Electromax DH10B cells. The cells were spread onto LB+tet (12.5 mg/L) plates to select for those containing plasmids. BamHI+BgIII digests were used to identify clones that had the correct construct, which was named pRK310BamKO. This new vector was digested with HindIII and phosphatased with SAP. The 5.5 kb HindIII fragment of pPCU14, isolated as described previously, was ligated into the vector pRK310BamKO. Electromax DH10B cells were electroporated with the ligated DNA. Plasmids were isolated from cells that grew on LB+tet (12.5 mg/L) plates and were digested, first with HindIII to ascertain the presence of an insert, then with SalI to determine the orientation of the insert. The correct plasmid was named pPCU16.

[0221] The 1.2 kb kan resistance marker from the vector pUC4K (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) was isolated as an EcoRI fragment in the manner described above, and inserted into the EcoRI site of pTMO1. The ligation was transformed into competent XL1 Blue cells, which were then spread onto LB+kan (50 mg/L)+amp (100 mg/L)+IPTG (1 mM) plates. Indigo-blue colonies were diagnostic for the presence of the tmo operon because tmo-encoded toluene monooxygenase catalyzes, in part, the formation of indigo from indole. The correct construct, which was named pTMO11, was ascertained through the digestion of the transforming plasmids with BamHI. The 5.9 kb pTMO11 fragment containing the tmo genes was purified as described previously, and was ligated to BamHI cut and SAP-phosphatased pPCU16. The ligated DNA was electroporated into Electromax DH1OB cells, which were then spread onto LB+tet (12.5 mg/L)+IPTG (1 mM) plates. Transformants that carried plasmids with the tmo genes were indigo-blue, as described before. The correct construct was identified by digestion with PstI, and was named pMC3.

[0222] Construction of the Expression Plasmid pMC4 Containing pcu and tmo

[0223]Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 genomic DNA was digested to completion with EcoRI. The digested DNA was run on a 0.8% agarose gel, and DNA larger than ˜6 kb was cut out of the gel and purified with GeneClean. Plasmid pUC18 was digested with EcoRI and the ends were phosphatased with SAP. The genomic DNA pieces were ligated to the vector, then electroporated into Escherichia coli Electromax DH10B cells. The cells were incubated on LB+amp (100 mg/L)+IPTG (1 mM) plates. Plasmids were isolated from indigo-producing transformant colonies and digested with EcoRI. The plasmid with the correct digest pattern was named pTMO14. A 7.3 kb SmaI fragment from pTMO14 was isolated as before and cloned into the 2.7 kb HincII cut and SAP treated pUC4K vector. The ligation was used to electroporate electrocompetent Escherichia coli DH5α a cells, which were then incubated on LB+amp (100 mg/L)+IPTG (1 mM) plates. BamHI digests were performed on plasmids from indigo-blue colonies from the plates. The correct construct, which had the tmo operon flanked by BamHI sites, was named pTMO15.

[0224] The 7.3 kb BamHI pTMO15 fragment was isolated as before and inserted into the BamHI site of pPCU18. This ligated DNA was electroporated into electrocompetent Pseudomonas putida DOT-Ti C5aAR1 cells, which were incubated on LB+strep (50 mg/L)+indole (1 mM) plates. Some of the plates also had a drop of toluene added to the inside of the top lid. They were all incubated at 30° C. overnight. PstI digests of plasmids from transformants identified one that had both pcu and tmo operons, and this clone was named pMC4 (FIG. 4).

Example 4 Production of p-Cresol from Toluene in Escherichia coli

[0225]Escherichia coli strain JM105 harboring plasmid pTMO1, which places tmo expression under control of the lac promoter, was grown under inducing conditions in the presence of 1 mM IPTG, or under non-inducing conditions in the absence of IPTG. Escherichia coli strain G1724 harboring plasmid pTMO3, which places tmo expression under control of the P_(L) promoter, was grown under inducing conditions in the presence of 100 mg/L tryptophan, or under non-inducing conditions in the absence of tryptophan.

[0226] Induced or non-induced cell samples were resuspended in minimal medium at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. To 26 mL of minimal medium in a 125 mL sealed flask was added 4 mL of the cell suspension, and 1 mL of toluene placed in a center well. Following a 36 h incubation 15 mL of the cells were acidified, extracted with ethyl acetate, and analysed by GC/MS. Table 2 shows that p-cresol is produced when induced cells harboring either plasmid pTMO1 or plasmid pTMO3 are incubated in the presence of toluene. In contrast, in the absence of induction of tmo using either plasmid, no p-cresol is detectable. TABLE 2 Plasmid Inducer GC Peak Area pTMO1 IPTG 1.45 × 10⁶ pTMO1 None 0 pTMO3 Tryptophan 5.05 × 10⁵ pTMO3 None 0

Example 5 Bioconversion of Toluene to 1-cresol in Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607

[0227]Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 was transformed with pTMO9 and pPCU12, grown at 30° C. and 250 rpm in medium A (Table 3). At an OD₆₀₀ of 1.98 (16 h) cells were harvested and washed in MM#4 medium (Table 4). (Trace elements found in both medium A and MM#4 Medium are listed in Table 5.) PHBA production was carried out in 125 mL sealed flasks in 5 mL MM#4 medium that contained 0.5 OD₆₀₀ cells, 0.05 mM MgSO₄, 2 mM glucose, 1 mM IPTG, 0.1 M HEPES buffer pH 7.5-8.0 and 60 ppm toluene. The flasks were incubated shaking at 250 rpm and 30° C. A non-induced control did not have IPTG added. Samples were incubated for 6 h, and the presence of p-cresol detected by HPLC. In the presence of IPTG 0.93 mM p-cresol was present after 6 h, compared to 0.135 mM in the non-induced sample. TABLE 3 Medium A per L Special Conditions KH₂PO₄ 1.2 g (NH4)₂SO₄ 3 g glucose 7 g/L sterilized separately MgSO₄.7H₂O 0.15 g trace elements 10 mL sterilized separately HEPES 0.05 M yeast extract 1 g sterilized separately

[0228] TABLE 4 MM #4 Medium trace elements 10 mL yeast extract 0.48 g MgSO₄.7H₂O 10 mM NaKPO₄ 25 mM DD H₂O 1 L PH 7.2

[0229] TABLE 5 Trace Elements in Medium A and MM #4 g/L citric acid 10 CaCl₂.2H₂O 1.5 FeSO₄.7H₂O 2.8 ZnSO₄.7H₂O 0.39 trace elements Medium A and MM #4 CuSO₄.5H₂O 0.38 CoCl₂.6H₂O 0.2 MnCl₂.4H₂O 0.3

Example 6 Identification and Sequence of a tmo Regulatory Region

[0230] Detection of a Regulatory Sequence:

[0231] Plasmids pTMO17 and pTMO18 differ in the amount of tmo sequence information that is present. Plasmid pTMO17 contains the six toluene monooxygenase genes tmoA-F. Plasmid pTMO1 8 also contains tmoA-F, but in addition has 1326 bp of DNA sequence information upstream from the translational initiation codon of tmoA. Plasmids pTMO17 and pTMO18 were transformed separately into Pseudomonas putida DOT-1 C5aAR1 and selected on LB+strep (100 mg/L). Colonies were inoculated into 25 mL LB+1 mM indole+strep (100 mg/L) and shaken in a 125 mL baffel flask at 200 rpm and 30° C. until indigo production occured. A 5 mL sample of cell suspension was extracted twice with an equal volume of ethyl acetate to solubilize the indigo, the two extracts were combined and the absorption at 600 nm recorded. A standard curve prepared with pure indigo in ethyl acetate was used to determine amounts in cell extracts.

[0232] TMO enzyme assays were carried out in a separate experiment using the same plasmids and strain. TMO was measured spectrophotometrically using a coupled assay, linking phenazine ethosulfate (PES) oxidation to reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) as measured by a decrease in absorption at 600 nm (E_(600nm)=21,000 M⁻¹cm⁻¹). The assay was initiated by the addition of enzyme to a 2.0 mL reaction mixture containing 0.67 μmol PES, 0.1 μmol DCPIP, 1.0 μmol toluene and saturating levels of purified p-cresol methylhydroxylase.

[0233] Table 6 shows that the presence of additional DNA upstream of tmoA enhances the level of TMO activity, which leads to a considerable improvement in indigo prduction. TABLE 6 Plasmid TMO activity Indigo produced (mg/L) pTMO17 0.7  2.5 pTMO18 1.3 88.0

[0234] Sequence of tmoX and its Upstream Promoter Region

[0235] The DNA upstream of tmoA was sequenced with synthetic primers (SEQ ID NO: 80 to SEQ ID NO: 90) according to standard methods. The complete sequence of the DNA has the sequence found in SEQ ID NO: 91. Encoded within the sequence is a protein, TmoX, with the initiator methionine at nucleotide 192 and a TAA translation terminator at position 1560. The predicted amino acid sequence of TmoX is given as SEQ ID NO: 92 and its nucleotide sequence is in SEQ ID NO: 103. TmoX has an 81% identity (87% similarity) in its predicted amino acid sequence compared to that of the TodX protein of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1 (Table 1). TodX has been described as an outer membrane protein that may be involved in facilitating the delivery of exogenous toluene inside cells (Wang et al., Mol Gen. Genet. 246:570-579 (1995)), but has also been linked to the signal transduction process which results in specific response of a tod promoter to toluene (Lau et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:1453-1458 (1997)).

[0236] The tmoX promoter was identified by primer extension using a 23-mer oligonucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 97) complementary to the DNA coding strand. The first nucleotide of the primer corresponded to a nucleotide 200 bp downstream from the A of the ATG initiation codon of the tmoX gene. Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 was grown overnight in M9 minimal medium with 10 mM citrate as the sole carbon source. To 200 mL of fresh medium was added 5 mL of overnight culture to give an initial OD of about 0.2 at 660 nm. The culture was incubated at 30° C. on a rotary shaker to an OD of 0.8 at 660 nm. Aliquots of 20 mL were supplemented with either 1 mM p-cresol, toluene in the gas phase, or a control with no additions. Samples were used for RNA isolation at 30, 60 and 180 min after addition of the effector.

[0237] The primer (SEQ ID NO: 97) was labeled at its 5′ end using ³²P-γ-ATP and polynucleotide kinase. To 30 μg of total RNA for each sample were added 10⁵ CPM of labeled primer, which was extended using reverse transcriptase. The resulting cDNA was separated on a urea-polyacrylamide sequencing gel. In addition, the labeled primer was used to establish a sequencing ladder to facilitate the identification of the transcription initiation point. It was established that the 260 base cDNA product positioned the tmoX transcription initiation point as a G located 60 bp upstream of the A of the ATG translation initiation codon of tmoX. Analysis of the region upstream of the ATG codon shows the presence of a prokaryotic Shine-Dalgarno sequence. Also noted is the presence of −10 and −35 sequences upstream of the transcript initiation site, each positioned respectively at bp 124-128 and bp 101-105 in SEQ ID NO: 91. A putative TodT motif is to be found at bp 30-46 in SEQ ID NO: 91.

[0238] By comparing the amounts of cDNA obtained under different induction regimes, it was found that growth in the presence of toluene led to a 20-fold increase in tmoX mRNA compared to growth on citrate, with a maximal level observed 30 min after exposure to the solvent. The transcription of tmoX was also induced by the presence of p-cresol, with maximal levels also at 30 min, followed by a decrease in signal intensity probably related to exhaustion of the inducer in the culture medium.

Example 7 Regulation of pcu Expression by PCUR

[0239] The pcuC::IacZ fusion plasmid pPCUR1, and the control plasmid pPCUR2, were transformed into Escherichia coli MC1061. Plasmids pPCUR1 and pPCUR2 also encode PcuR and amp resistance. Cultures were grown overnight in flasks shaking at 37° C. in M9 minimal medium containing 1 % glucose and 50 mg/L amp. In addition, some flasks also contained intermediate compounds of the toluene to PHBA pathway, including toluene and PHBA. The following were added at a concentration of 1 mM to separate flasks prior to overnight incubation: p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzylalcohol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and PHBA. Toluene (5 μL) was added to the gas phase of a 125 mL sealed flask. The overnight cultures were treated with chloroform and SDS, and assayed for β-galactosidase as described in J. H. Miller in A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; 1992).

[0240] Table 7 shows that when using plasmid pPCUR1 there is no induction of the pcuC::lacZ gene fusion when toluene or PHBA are present, neither of which are substrates for enzymes encoded by the pcu operon. In contrast, the presence of p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzylalcohol or p-hydroxybenzaldehyde all lead to significant induction of pcuC::lacZ, and all three compounds are substrates for the two enzymes encoded by the pcu operon i.e. PCMH and PHBAD. In the control plasmid pPCUR2, in which the pcuC gene is incorrectly orientated for expression, the presence of p-cresol does not lead to expression of β-galactosidase activity. TABLE 7 Plasmid Inducer β-galactosidase units pPCUR1 toluene 0.55 pPCUR1 p-cresol 19.53  pPCUR2 p-cresol 0.05 pPCUR1 p-hydroxybenzylalcohol 5.65 pPCUR1 p-hydroxybenzaldehyde 9.70 pPCUR1 PHBA 0.06

Example 8 Activity of Plasmid-Encoded Enzymes in Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1

[0241] Cells were grown in Medium A with the appropriate antibiotic in shake flasks at 30° C. (200 rpm). When the glucose had been depleted, the induction phase was initiated by addition of toluene and/or p-cresol. Three consecutive additions of inducer were made, each separated by one hour. For induction with IPTG, the compound was added at a concentration of 1 mM. Cells were collected by centrifugation, washed once with phosphate buffered saline and stored at −80° C. until assay.

[0242] TMO was measured spectrophotometrically using a coupled assay, linking phenazine ethosulfate (PES) oxidation to reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) as measured by a decrease in absorption at 600 nm (E_(600nm)=21,000 M⁻¹cm⁻¹). The assay was initiated by the addition of enzyme to a 2.0 mL reaction mixture containing 0.67 μmol PES, 0.1 4 μmol DCPIP, 1.0 μmol toluene and saturating levels of purified p-cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH).

[0243] p-Cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH) activity was measured spectrophotometrically using a coupled assay, linking phenazine ethosulfate (PES) oxidation to reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) as measured by a decrease in absorption at 600 nm (E_(600nm)=21,000 M⁻¹cm⁻¹). The assay was initiated by the addition of enzyme to a 2.0 mL reaction mixture containing 0.67 μmol PES, 0.1 μmol DCPIP and 1.0 μmol p-cresol. This assay was also used to measure toluene monooxygenase (TMO) activity by substituting 0.5-1.0 pmol toluene into the reaction mixture and by the addition of saturating levels of purified p-cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH).

[0244] p-Hydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase (PHBAD) activity was measured spectrophoto-metrically using a reaction mix containing 600 nmol NADP⁺, 40 nmol p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 1.0 mL of 50 mM glycine-NaOH (pH 9.6), and an appropriate amount of enzyme. Enzyme activity was determined by an increase in absorbance at 330 nm. A unit of activity is the amount of enzyme required to oxidize 1.0 μmol of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde per min (E_(330nm)=28,800 M⁻¹cm⁻¹). p-Hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was assayed spectrophotometrically by following the oxidation of NADPH. The reaction mixture contained 250 nmol NADPH, 700 nmol p-hydroxybenzoate, an appropriate amounts of enzyme, and 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0) to give a final volume of 1.0 mL. A unit of activity is the amount of enzyme required to oxidize 1.0 μmol of NADPH per min (E_(340nm)=6,200 M⁻¹cm⁻¹).

[0245] Enzyme assays for PCMH and PHBAD demonstrate that both of the Pseudomonas mendocina pcu enzymes are expressed in Pseudomonas putida strain DOT-Ti (Table 8). In addition, it is noteworthy that expression of pcu is superior when using its native promoter in plasmid pMC4 compared to the use of a lac promoter in plasmid pMC3. This is also true for TMO, where greater activity is seen when using the endogenous tmo promoter in pMC4 when compared to the lac promoter in plasmid pMC3. TABLE 8 Plasmid Promoter Inducer TMO PCMH PHBAD pMC3 lac IPTG 0.76 0.74 pMC4 pcu or tmo Toluene 18.2 13.5 9.0 pPCU18 pcu p-cresol 0 16.1 3.6 none — — 0 0.29 0.05

Example 9 Production of PHBA from Q-Cresol by Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 Transformed with a pcu Expression Plasmid

[0246] The mobilizing Escherichia coli strain S17-1 was used to introduce the pcu expression plasmid pPCU12 into Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 by conjugation. A single colony of S17-1 having the plasmid pPCU12 was inoculated in 20 mL LB medium and grown at 37° C. to log phase. Another colony of Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 was inoculated in 20 mL LB medium and incubated at 30 OC and grown to log phase. The cells of both cultures were washed twice with LB medium and resuspended in LB medium. S17-1 cells harboring pPCU12 and Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 were mixed at a ratio of 1:4 and were plated on agar plates of LB medium. The plates were incubated at 30° C. for 8 h. The cells were collected and then plated on agar plates containing phosphate buffer, 1 mM succinate, 10 mM strep and 25 mg/L kan, and kan resistant colonies were selected. Transformants, or a non-transformed control strain, were grown in 15 mL M9 minimal medium containing 1% glucose, 5 mM p-cresol, 10 mM MgSO_(4,) tet (15 mg/L) in 125 mL flasks at 30° C. and 225 rpm. Samples were removed at the indicated timepoints and analyzed by HPLC for the presence of p-cresol and PHBA. In a plasmid-free control Pseudomonas putida strain failed to convert 3.3 mM p-cresol to PHBA (<0.007 mM). In contrast, Pseudomonas putida harboring plasmid pPCU12 produced 0.793 mM PHBA during an overnight incubation (Table 9). PHBA production is, therefore, a new attribute of Pseudomonas putida ATCC 29607 when transformed with and expressing pcu. TABLE 9 Strain Time (h) PHBA (mM) p-cresol (mM) control 2 <0.007 3.3 control 5 <0.007 3.4 control 16  <0.007 3.2 pPCU12 2  0.141 2.8 pPCU12 5  0.284 2.8 pPCU12 16   0.767 2.2

Example 10 Increased Rate of Production of PHBA from p-Cresol by Pseudomonas mendocina Harboring a pcu Expression Plasmid

[0247] Plasmid pPCU12 was transferred by conjugation from Escherichia coli S17-1 to Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 as described earlier. Transformants, or a non-transformed control strain, were grown in 15 mL M9 minimal medium containing 1% glucose, 5 mM p-cresol, 10 mM MgSO_(4,) tet (15 mg/L) in 125 mL flasks at 30° C. and 225 rpm. Samples were removed at intervals of 2, 5 and 16 h and analyzed by HPLC for the presence of p-cresol and PHBA. The Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 strain has a functional chromosomal pcu operon, but also has inactivated pobA genes to enable PHBA to accumulate. In the presence of the pPCU12 expression plasmid in Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51, PHBA accumulates more rapidly to give a concentration of 1.57 mM during the first 5 h incubation, compared to 0.526 mM for the control Pseudomonas mendocina strain alone (Table 10). TABLE 10 Strain Time (h) PHBA (mM) p-cresol (mM) control 2 0.185 3.2 control 5 0.526 2.8 control 16  4.02 0.48 pPCU12 2 0.7 2.8 pPCU12 5 1.57 2.2 pPCU12 16  4.84 0.08

Example 11 Production of PHBA from p-Cresol by Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834 Transformed with a Pcu Expression Plasmid

[0248]Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834 was grown in nutrient broth at 30° C. and cells harvested during logarithmic growth. The cells were made electrocompetent by washing three times in water, centrifuging at 6000 rpm after each wash. Either the plasmid vector pGV1120 (Leemans et al., Gene 19:361-364 (1982)) or pMC4 were electroporated into the cells using 1 mm gap cuvettes at 1.44 kv. Cells were spread on LB plates containing 50 mg/L strep and incubated at 30° C. Transformants harboring the pGV1120 vector, or the pcu expression plasmid pMC4, were grown for 24 h in nutrient broth containing 50 mg/L strep, 10 mM MgSO₄, and 1 mM fully-deuterated p-cresol. PHBA was extracted from boiled cells with ether and concentrated by evaporation. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to show that the PHBA formed (1.4 μM) contained 4 deuterium atoms. This experiment proves that it was derived from the p-cresol present during culture of the cells.

Example 12 Production of PHBA from Toluene by Pseudomonas mendocina Transformed with Plasmid pMC3 (pcu⁺ tmo⁺)

[0249]Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 was transformed with plasmid pMC3 and selected on LB+tet (12.5 mg/L) plates at 30° C. The procedure for cell growth and toluene production was similar to that described in Example 9. The test cultures have 1 mM IPTG present at the growth and PHBA production stages in order to induce transcription from the lac promoter. No IPTG was added to the control cultures. Samples were tested for PHBA by HPLC at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h intervals. Table 11 shows that PHBA is produced by induced and non-induced cultures, but with IPTG-treated cells production started earlier, and approached levels that were within the maximum expected based on the amount of toluene added in the flasks. TABLE 11 PHBA (mM) Time (h) + IPTG − IPTG 1 0.147 0.131 2 0.438 0.180 4 4.985 1.230 6 7.442 4.172

Example 13 Generation of Stable ΔtodC Deficient Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E Strains

[0250]Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E (CECT 5312) grows on toluene via the toluene dioxygenase pathway (Mosqueda et al., Gene 232:69-76 (1999)). The use of this strain for PHBA production from toluene requires its inactivation. In order to generate a mutant deficient in toluene metabolism in DOT-T1E strain, a deletion of the todCI gene in the tod operon was carried out. FIG. 5 illustrates the strategy used and the relevant constructions. The entire DOT-T1 tod operon (Mosqueda et al., Gene 232:69-76 (1999)) is contained in two plasmids: todXF genes borne by pT1-4, and todC1C2BADEGIHST genes borne by pT1-125. The approximately 4.5 kb EcoRI/XcaI fragment of pT1-125 which extends from todc1 to todD was cloned at the EcoRI/SmaI sites of a pUC18 Not derivative (de Lorenzo and Timmis, Methods EnzymoL 235:386-405 (1994)) that lacked the BamHI and HindIII at the multicopy cloning site to give plasmid pMIR17. The 1.8 kb SspI/EcoRI fragment of pT1-4 containing todXF was cloned at the EcoRI site of pMIR17 and the plasmid pMIR20 was obtained. (The unique NotI site present in the SspI/EcoRI fragment was removed before cloning). Most of the 3′-half end of todF, the entire todC1 gene, and the 5′-end of todC2 were removed from pMIR20 as a 1.6 BamHI/HindIII fragment. A 2.2 kb fragment containing the Ω/km cassette (Fellay et al., Gene 52:147-154 (1987)), encoding resistance to kanamycin, was cloned at the same position which rendered the pMIR22 plasmid. pMIR30 was obtained as the result of the subcloning in pKNG101 of the NotI fragments, which contained the region corresponding to the ΔtodC1 and the Km resistance of pMIR22. pKNG101 is a suicide vector in Pseudomonas which confers conditional lethality in the presence of sucrose (Kaniga et al., Gene 109:137-141 (1991)). pMIR30 was used to replace the todCI gene in the chromosome of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E with a deleted version by homologous recombination and a toluene minus DOT-T1E derivative was obtained called ΔtodCkm. The absence of todc1 gene in the chromosome of the toluene minus isolate was confirmed by PCR with specific primers and in Southern blot.

[0251] The stability of the mutant unable to use toluene as the sole carbon- source was tested. The results can be summarized as follows: i) after 90 generations of growth on LB medium under non-selective conditions, i.e. in the absence of antibiotic markers, 100% of cells were resistant to kanamycin and unable to grow in toluene; ii) no growth was observed in M9 liquid minimal medium with toluene as the sole carbon-source; i.e. revertants were undetectable after one week in flasks with 10 mL cultures which had been inoculated with 10⁷ CFU/mL); iii) the reversion rate determined as the re-acquisition of the ability to grow on toluene was undetectable (lower than 10⁻⁹ by the plating technique).

Example 14 Cloning of the Pseudomonas putida pobA Gene

[0252] The pobA gene encodes the enzyme para-hydoxybenzoate hydroxylase and converts PHBA into protocarechuate. Production of PHBA requires that its metabolism through the pobA pathway be impaired. To this end, pobA was first cloned, then it was inactivated it in vitro and the mutation transfered to the chromosome of ΔtodKm. To clone Pseudomonas putida pobA gene, a Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (ATCC 47054) built in the tetracycline (Tc)-resistant pLAFR3 cosmid (Rodriguez-Herva et al., J Bacteriol. 178:1699-1706 (1996)) was used for the complementation of the Pseudomonas mendocina KRC16KDpobA51 (ATCC 55885). In this strain both pobA genes are inactivated and so it is unable to grow in p-hydroxybenzoate (WO 98/56920). Upon triparental mating with E. coli HB101 (pLAFR3::genebank), E. coli (pRK600) —a helper strain- and Pseudomonas mendocina #303, Tc^(R) Pseudomonas mendocina exconjugants able to grow on p-hydroxybenzoate as the sole carbon source were selected. The chimeric cosmids of these clones were isolated, their restriction pattern established and analyzed in Southern blot against the Pseudomonas mendocina pobA1 gene. A 6 kb BamHI/EcoRI hybridization band common to all cosmids was found and cloned in pUC19 to yield pMIR18. Plasmid pMIR18 was used as the target for “artificial” in vitro random transposition, which was carried out with the Primer Island Transposition Kit (PE Applied Biosystems). A battery of plasmids carrying the AT-2 transposon at different positions was generated and E. coli DH5αcells were electroporated with the heterogeneous mix of plasmids. pobA and pobR genes were identified by sequencing from specific present at the extremes of the transposable element in pMIR27 (FIG. 6). The following primers were used:

[0253] 1383-1399 oligo pobA1 (+) 5 GCTTCCACGGTATCTCG 3 (SEQ ID NO: 104);

[0254] 1359-1343 oligo pobA1 (−) 5 CAGTCMTCCGCTGCAC 3 (SEQ ID NO: 105);

[0255] 1732-1751 oligo pobA2 (+) 5 GCAGTATGGTCACCTGTTCC 3 (SEQ ID NO: 106);

[0256] 1728-1710 oligo pobA2 (−) 5 GGTTCGACCACCAGGCTAC 3 (SEQ ID NO: 107);

[0257] 1162-1180 oligo pobA3 (+) 5 GGATCTCAAAGCCCTGACC 3 (SEQ ID NO: 108);

[0258] 963-983 oligo pobA4 (+) 5 TGCTGCACAAGGCCGGTATCG 3 (SEQ ID NO: 109);

[0259] 1945-1925 oligo pobA4 (−) 5 GGTCATGAACCAGCTGAAGCG 3 (SEQ ID NO: 110);

[0260] 742-760 oligo pobR2 (−) 5 CCTGTCCGTTMTCGMCG 3 (SEQ ID NO: 111).

Example 15 Generation of p-Hydroxybenzoate Minus Derivative of Pseudomonas putida T1-E ΔtodCkm

[0261] To knock-out the pobA gene in the chromosome of the toluene minus Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCkm strain, plasmid pMIR31 was generated with a pobA inactivated copy (FIG. 6). Plasmid pMIR31 bore Pseudomonas putida KT2440 pobA gene interrupted by the interposon Ω/Sm. This chimeric plasmid is a suicide vector in Pseudomonas and was used as a delivery system for gene replacement of the wild type pobA allele for an inactivated copy by homologous recombination.

[0262]Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCkm cells were electroporated with pMIR31 and after high voltage pulse, cells were incubated in SOC medium for two h at 30° C., then centrifuged and the pellet incubated overnight on an LB-agar plate. Finally, Sm-resistant transconjugants were selected on LB plates with Km, 25 μg/mL, and Sm, 150 μg/mL. This selection medium permitted the growth of the clones resulting from a single cointegration event of pMIR31 in the host chromosome, as well as an eventually successful gene replacement after the resolution of the cointegrate. Two hundred Km^(r) Sm^(r) colonies were tested for their ability to grow on p-hydroxybenzoate as the sole carbon source and for piperacillin resistance (Pip^(r))—the marker of the pMIR31 plasmid that allowed one to confirm the cointegration of the host chromosome of the plasmid. Two of the clones were Km^(r) Sm^(r) p-hydroxybenzoate−Pip^(s) glucose⁺ was used to confirm the successful allelic exchange of the wild-type pobA gene for the inactivated copy confirmed by Southern blot. The double mutant was called Pseudomonas putida todCKmpobA::Sm.

Example 16 Recruitment of Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 Toluene Monooxygenase/p-Cresol Utilization Pathways in Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCKmpobA::Sm (Construction of a miniTn5Tctmoplcu Transposon and Production of PHBA)

[0263] A transposon was constructed based on a miniTn5Tc with Pseudomonas mendocina tmo/pcu genes which permitted integrating these catabolic genes in the chromosome of the double mutant Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCKmpobA::Sm and so produced p-hydroxybenzoate from toluene. The scheme of the construction of the transposon is shown in FIG. 7. The 7.5 kb BamHI fragment of pMC4 containing the tmoXABCDEF genes was subloned at the same site in the polylinker of pUCI19, generating the plamid pMIR32. The 7.6 MluI/NheI fragment of pPCU17 containing the pcuRCAB genes was subcloned at the Hindll/Xbal sites of pUC18NotI. In the plasmid so generated, pMIR40, the 7.4 kb BamHI fragment of pMIR32 containing the tmo operon was cloned at the BamHI site.

[0264] Then the 15 kb NotI fragment containing pcu and tmo genes was cloned at the unique NotI site of pUT/Tc (de Lorenzo and Timmis, Methods Enzymol. 235:386-405 (1994)) generating the plasmid pMIR44 (the unique NotI site of pUT/Tc is located within the transposable element mini Tn5Tc born by the plasmid pUT which is suicide in Pseudomonas). The transposon was delivered in the chromosome of the double mutant Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCKmpobA::Sm via a triparental mating with CC118λpir (pMIR44) as a donor and HB101 (pRK600) as a helper strain. Exconjugants Km^(r) Sm^(r) Tc_(r) were selected with a rate of 5×10⁻⁸. The presence of the mini Tn5Tctmo/pcu transposon was confirmed in the Tc^(r) exconjugants by PCR-amplification of the tmoA gene. This strain produces more than 2 g/L PHBA when grown with glucose in the presence of toluene.

Example 17 Construction of a pobA Mutant of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and Recruitment of mini Tn5Tctmo/pcu

[0265] Plasmid pMIR31 was also used to replace the wild-type pobA gene of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 with a mutant allele as it was carried out with Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCKm. The resolution of the merodiploid colonies was tested for Sm resistance and Pip sensitivity. One out of 100 colonies exhibited this character and was unable to grow on p-hydroxybenzoate as the sole carbon source. The allelic exchange was further confirmed on Southern blot.

[0266] The catabolic genes tmo/pcu were recruited in Pseudomonas putida pobA through a triparental mating with CC118λpir (pMIR44), HB101 (pRK600) and Pseudomonas putida pobA, as it was previously conducted for the recruitment of the mini Tn5Tctmo/pcu in Pseudomonas putida ΔtodCKmpobA::Sm. Nevertheless, this strain only produced trace amounts of PHBA. However production of PHBA was achieved when the regulatory todST genes of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E (SEQ ID NO: 112; GenBank Accession Number Y18245; Mosqueda et al., Gene 232:69-76 (1999)) were introduced in the strain after subcloning in plasmid pBBR1-MCS5. This strain produced PHBA up to 10-15 mM in 250 mL flasks with 3 mL culture containing about 10⁸ cells/mL and incubated at 30 ° C. on an orbital platform operated at 200 strokes per min. This example indicates that the regulatory genes of the tod pathway induce the tmo pathway.

[0267] The heterologous TodST proteins that control the induction of toluene dioxygenase pathway, are able to induce high levels of expression from the tmo pathway genes, and are useful tools to mediate expression of the catabolic tmo genes and PHBA production in any organism that does not possess these genes. Previously, Lau and co-workers (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:1453-1458 (1997)) have shown that the two regulatory genes from Pseudomonas putida F1, todS and todT, are members of a two-component signal tranduction family of bacteria uses a histidine-asparate phosphorelay circuit to sense environmental changes. The genes in the instant invention are 95-100% homologous to the tod genes in Pseudomonas putida F1.

Example 18 Identification of tmoS and tmoT as Two Components of a Signal Transduction System which Regulates Expression of the tmo Operon when Present in either Natural or Recombinant Hosts.

[0268] Construction of a P. putida Strain with a Deletion in todS and todT

[0269] For the generation of the todST mutant a derivative plasmid of pKNG 101 (Kaniga et al., Gene, 109(1):137-141 (1991)) containing a partial deletion of todST genes with the insertion of the interposon Ωkm was used. Plasmid pT1-125 (Mosqueda et al., Gene, 232(1): 69-76 (1999)) is a pUC18 derivative that bears ˜16 kb of the chromosome of P. putida DOT-T1E emcompassing part of the tod operon of this strain, including the todS and todT genes (Genebank Accession number Y18245). A 4.3-kb Xhol-HindIII fragment containing the todS and todT genes was cloned at the compatible SalI and HindIII sites of pUC18 to yield plasmid pT1-155. This plasmid contains a single Hpal site within the todS gene and a single EcoRV site within the todT gene. The 2.7-kb Hpal-EcoRV fragment was removed from the pT1-155 plasmid and the resulting linear plasmid was ligated to a 2.2-kb blunt-ended fragment carrying a kanamycin resistance cassette obtained from plasmid pHP45ΩKm (Fellay et al., Gene, 52(2-3): 147-154 (1987)). The plasmid so generated, pT1-155STKm, was digested with BamHI and the 3.8-kb fragment bearing the corresponding deleted tod genes was subcloned within pKNG101 to yield plasmid pT1-ST1 Km which carried the insertional deletion ΔtodST::Km.

[0270] The pT1-ST1 Km plasmid carrying the todST::Km mutation was used to replace the wild type todST genes for the corresponding mutant allele into the chromosome of P. putida DOT-T1E via homologous recombination. Details of the mobilization of this suicide plasmid, selection of merodiploid strains, and selection of mutants upon allelic exchange were as described before (Ramos-Gonza'lez et al., J. Bacteriol, 180(13):3421-3431 (1998)). A clone exhibiting the appropriate replacement of todST genes, confirmed by Southern blot and DNA hybridization was selected for further analysis. This mutant was unable to use toluene as the sole carbon source as expected.

[0271]P. mendocina tmoS and tmoT Genes Cloned by Complementation of the P. putida todST Deletion Strain:

[0272] Genes homologous to the todST signal transduction system of P. putida DOT-T1E were detected in the chromosome of P. mendocina KR1 as a 4.5-kb HindIII fragment using todST as a probe under low strigency hybridization conditions (50° C. without formamide). A gene bank of P. mendocina KR1 containing about 13,000 independent clones was generated by randomly inserting chromosomal DNA fragments in the pLAFR3 cosmid vector using E. coli HB101 as a host for transfection by using Gigapack Ill Gold Packaging Extract (Stratagene #200202). Cosmid pLAFR3 is a lacZ derivative of pLAFRl (Friedman et al., Gene, 18(3):289-296 (1982)). Seven hundred ng of highly intact total DNA of P. mendocina KR1, prepared as described (Robson et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 130(7): 1603-1612 (1984)), was partially digested with PstI into 20 kb fragments and ligated at the same site present in 300 ng of PstI linearized cosmid pLAFR3 which had been dephosphorylated with SAP. This library was used to complement the P. putida DOT-T1E todST mutant with the P. mendocina KR1 genes homologous to todST The gene bank was transferred by mobilization to the P. putida DOT-T1E todST mutant, and transconjugants able to grow on toluene and tetracycline as the marker for the cosmid vector were isolated. All the recombinant cosmids showed positive signals in Southern blots and hybridizations against todS and todT gene probes, and the same hybridization bands were obtained with both probes. A transconjugant was selected and the cosmid, called pMIR51, showed a 5 kb HindIII hybridization band against the probes. The 5 kb HindIII fragment was cloned in the pBBR1MCS-5 (Kovach et al., Gene, 166(1): 175-176 (1995)) broad host range vector and the plasmid so generated, pMAX47-2, conferred the ability to grow on toluene as the sole carbon source after transfer to the P. putida DOT-T1E todST mutant. The insert of pMAX47-2 was sequenced and the sequence deposited in the Database under accession number AY052500. Two open reading frames of 973 and 220 amino acids, respectively were found. Their translated sequences were compared with all the entries in the non redundant database as described in the BLAST program (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 25(17): 3389-3402 (1997)). The proteins showed the highest identity with TodS and TodT, a two component signal transduction system in diverse P. putida strains (83% and 85% identity, respectively) (i.e. Ac. No. AF180147, Y18245, U72354). Hereafter the genes cloned in pMAX47-2 will be called tmoS and tmoT. The above results therefore show that the P. mendocina KR1 tmoST genes are able to replace TodST in the activation of the toluene dioxygenase tod operon.

[0273] tmoS and tmoT Mediated Toluene-Induction of the tmo Operon in P. mendocina and in Heterologous P. putida Strains

[0274] A transcriptional fusion of the tmoX promoter was constructed by using the 'lacZ wide range reporter plasmid pMP220 (Spaink et al., Plant Mol Biol 9: 27-39 (1987)). A 7.5 kb-BamHI fragment of pMC4 containing the tmoXABCDEF genes was subdloned at the same site in the polylinker of pUC19 and the plasmid so generated was called pMIR32. A 1.2 kb BamHI/ApaLI fragment of pMIR32 containing the tmo promoter region was subcloned between the BamHI and HindII sites in pUC19 generating plasmid pMIR36. The 0.8 kb Kpnl/PstI fragment of pMIR36 containing the tmoX promoter was fused to 'lacZ in the wide-host range plasmid pMP220. The plasmid so generated, pMIR38, bears the transcriptional fusion of the tmo promoter to 'lacZ, and the role of tmoS and tmoT on tmo expression determined by assay of IacZ-encoded—galactosidase.

[0275] Plasmid pMIR38 was introduced into different Pseudomonas strains to examine the expression of the tmo promoter in various hosts. The strains used were P. mendocina KR1 (tmoST⁺), P. putida DOT-T1E (todST⁺), P. putida KT2440 (tmoST⁻ and todST⁻) and the P. putida DOT-T1E todST (tmoST⁻, todST⁻) mutant. β-galactosidase activities were measured in cells growing in LB in the absence and in the presence of toluene in the gas phase. In the absence of toluene, the expression levels from the P_(tmox) promoter during growth were below 150 units in all cases. In the presence of toluene, in P. mendocina KR1, β-galactosidase activities increased steadily up to 800 Miller Units after 12 hours induction, (6 fold-increase with respect to the basal level in the absence of toluene). In KT2440, no activity was detected as expected since the genes homologous to todST and tmoST were not present in the chromosome of this strain. The same result was obtained with the DOT-T1E todST mutant. The level of β-galactosidase activity in DOT-T1E (pMIR38) increased moderately (4 to 5 fold) in response to toluene. Plasmid pMAX47-2 bearing the tmoST genes was able to confer the ability to grow on toluene to the P. putida DOT-T1E todST mutant. The pMAX47-2 plasmid was introduced into KT2440 (pMIR38) in order to confirm that TmoS and TmoT promoted the transcription from the tmo promoter, and high levels of β-galactosidase activity were detected (up to more than 7000 Miller Units), which means a 55 fold induction in the presence of toluene.

[0276] The assays reported above were also carried out with all the strains but growing on M9 minimal medium supplemented with 25 mM glucose. It was observed that during growth in the absence of toluene, very low expression from the Ptmo promoter was recorded. Strain P. putida DOT-T1E (pMIR38), however, exhibited more than 2,000 Miller Units in the presence of toluene (almost a 20-fold induction), indicating the positive influence of tmoS and tmoT on expression from the tmo promoter.

1 112 1 6491 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 1 tcactccccc ttgagccggt agctgatctg cgcgcgactc atgcccaaca tctgcgccgc 60 cgcggtgagg ttgccgccgg tgcgttccag ggcaaggtgc accaggcgct gctcgatctc 120 cttcagtgat gtgcctagta cccggtcgcg cccggcgagg aaggcctgca ggttggccag 180 ccccagctca accggttcat gctcctcgac aaccacctca gcccgcgctt gcggttcgcc 240 gccgacggca tccagacggc cttcggcggt caggccgatg ccgctggagc gaagtggctc 300 gccggctttt gccaggtgca ccaggtcgat cagctcgcca ctgcctgcgg cgatcacgcc 360 gcgctcgatc aggttctgca gctcacggat attgccgggg aagcggtagg tcagcagcgc 420 gttgaccagc cgcgtgctga aacccagggg tttgagccca tggcgcgcac tgaacttgcg 480 caggaagtag ctcatcagga gcgggatgtc ctcacggcgc tcgcgcaggg gcggcagatg 540 gatggggaac acgttcagcc ggtacagcag gtcctcgcgg aagcgcccgg cctcgacctc 600 tcggcgcagg tccagattgg tggcggcgat caccctcaca tccaccggga tcgccgaggt 660 accacctacc cgctcgatct cgccctcctg cagcacccgc aggatcttgc tctgggcgct 720 gaggctcagg gtggcgatct cgtcgaggaa cagggtgccg cccttggccc gctcgaagcg 780 ccccgggcgg gaacggtcgg cgccggtgaa ggcaccgcgc tccacgccga acagttcggc 840 ttccagcaga gtttccggca acgccgcgca gttgagcgcc accaacggcg tttggcggcg 900 cgggctggcc tggtgcaggg tgcgcgcgaa gagctccttg cccacccccg attcaccggt 960 cagcagtacg gtggcctggg tcgacgcaac gcggtagagc tgctggctgg cggcgacaaa 1020 ggcggcggaa atgcccacca tggcctggtc ctcgggcggc tcatccagat cggccatttc 1080 cgtctcgtct gccgagccgt aggtgctccg gctgaggaag tcgctggcat ccaggtgggc 1140 caggtcggtg tcgatgtcct cccactgctc cgccggcttg ccgacgatgc ggcacgccga 1200 atggcccatg cagcggcatt cctgctcgcg gaacaccacc aggcgcccca gcagggagga 1260 ggtgtagccg ctggcgtagc ccacttccat ccagcaggcc ggttcgctgc ccagcccgta 1320 gctggcgatg tgctcgtcgg cttccaggga gttgtgccag aagaattcgg aatagaaatg 1380 cccgatgctg gagtcgatgt cgaagcgcac cacttccacg ttcaccatgc cctccagcat 1440 gtgcaggcgc gggcctgcgc tgtagaggct ggcgtggtcg ccctcgggcc actgcgcgct 1500 gacctgagcg gcatccctcg ttccggcctg ccagccaatg cgggtcagaa ggccacgggc 1560 cttgtcgagg ccgagggctt ccaccaactc gcgacggatg gcgccgaagg cggccccctg 1620 cagcagcatc atgcgctggc cgcagagcca gatattgcca tcctggggcg cgaaggcgac 1680 ggtctccgcc agttgctcgg ccgagggcag cccgctgctg ccgaactggt tggcctggtc 1740 gacgatcagg ctcttctgcc ggccgagcaa ctgcttgagg aattcatccc ccatgctgcg 1800 gccgggattg ctcgagggtt tgcgagtcat ggtcatgggg cgggaggtag gaacaatgtt 1860 attcagtatg cccgtgtgaa atggccggtc aattggccct tgccatcacc caataatcgc 1920 ccaacctctt gcagaccact ccggagaagt ttctgcgccc cggagacttc tctgaagaaa 1980 aatcggcgcc aaccctcccg caagcccccc atgcgtccgc tccgcattcc ccaaaaaaac 2040 gtaaccaatt gttttacaaa taaaaaatag aagaaagaag gattggcacg gtagttgtta 2100 aaggacaggg gcgtgcaccc aagacaataa caacacaggt aacgacccta tgaaccgctt 2160 cccatcgcca atccattccg cttgcccacc cgcaccacgg cttcgttgtt gaccctcaac 2220 cgtacctcca caggaacggc gcccgcgcgt cttgcctgac gtatcgccac gcgcccgtgt 2280 aaccaccggc tcgccgccac tggcagcctt ccgcgcaaac aagagagaac ccatggacac 2340 cacccgccct gcctaccaga acctcgagct ccaacctctc gccgggcaat ggcgcgccgg 2400 cagtagcggt cgcccgttgg aggtcttcga cccctacaac gacgagctgc tattgcgcat 2460 cgccctggcc agccgcgaag acctcgacgc agcctaccgc aaggcccgcg acagccagcg 2520 ggagtgggcg accacggcgc cggccgagcg cgcccgggtg ctgctggaag cggtgaagat 2580 cttcgatgag cgccgcgagg agattatcga ctggatcatc cgcgagtccg gcagcacccg 2640 catcaaggcg cagatcgaat ggggcgccgc ccgcgccatc accctggagt cggccagcct 2700 gccgaatcgc gtgcacgggc gcatcatcgc ctccaacatc tccggcaagg agagccgcgt 2760 gtaccgcgcg cccctgggcg tgatcggcgt gatcagtccg tggaacttcc ccctgcacct 2820 cactgcccgc tccctggccc cggccctggc cctgggcaat gccgtggtgg tcaagccggc 2880 cagcgacacc ccgatcaccg gtggcctact gctggcgcgc atcttcgaag aagccggcct 2940 gccggcgggc gtgctcagcg tggtggtggg ttcgggcgcg gagattggtg acgccttcgt 3000 cgagcacccg gtgcccgccc tcatttcctt caccggctcc actcaggtgg gccgcaacat 3060 cggccgcatc gccagcggcg gtgagcacct caagcacgtg gcgctggaac tgggcggcaa 3120 cagcccgttt gtggtcttgg ccgatgccga cgtggagcag gcggtgaatg cggccgtggt 3180 cggcaagttc ctgcaccagg gccagatctg catggcgatc aaccgcatta tcgtcgagca 3240 gcctttgctg gaagatttca cccgccgctt cgtcgagcgc gtcaaggccc tgccctatgg 3300 cgacccgagc aagccgggga ccgtggtcgg tccggtgatc aacgccaggc agctggccgg 3360 tctgaaggag aagatcgcca ccgccaaggc cgaaggcgcc accctgctgc tgggtggcga 3420 gccccagggc aacgtcatgc cgccccatgt gttcggcaac gtcaccgccg acatggaaat 3480 cgcccgcgaa gaaattttcg gcccgctggt gggcatccaa tccgcccgtg acgccgaaca 3540 cgccctggag ttggccaaca gcagcgagta cggcctgtcc agcgcggtgt tcaccgccag 3600 cctcgagcgc ggcgtgcagt tcgcccggcg catccacgcc ggcatgaccc acgtgaacga 3660 catcccggtt aacgacgagc ccaacgctcc cttcggcggc gagaagaact ctggcctcgg 3720 ccgcttcaac ggcgactggg ccatcgagga gttcaccacc gatcactgga tcaccctgca 3780 acacagcccg cggccctatc cgttctgatg ctgccgcatc cccatcaccc agccccaata 3840 aaaaacggag tacgaaatgt cctcactcct caacagccga gctgtgaaac ggccactgct 3900 ggccagcctt gcactaattt tcgccctgct cgccggccag gccttcgccg acggcgacgg 3960 cgtctggaaa ggcggcgaga acgtctacca gaaaatctgt ggccactgcc acgaaaaaca 4020 ggtgggcccg gtgatcaccg gccgccagct accgccgcag tacatcagtg ccgtggtgcg 4080 caacggcttc cgcgccatgc cggcctttcc ggcctcgttc atcgacgaca aggccctgca 4140 gcaggtcgcc gagtacatct ccaagacccc tgctactgtg gccaagccct gaggtgccgg 4200 cgatgaacat cgaacgtcgt accctgctca agggcatggc cctgggcggc ctggctggcg 4260 ccgccatggg cgccttcggc ctggcgatga ccaaggccat gctgggcggg caggcccagc 4320 cactgcccac cctcgtcctg gtagatggcg aggcggccgg agcggccttc ctcgccggag 4380 tcggttccag cccggcggcc agcaaggccg aggtgcagcg caccgatctc ggcctggact 4440 tcgtcttggg cctggagaag cgcctgcgca gtggtcagca gcaacgcatc atcggtctgg 4500 tggatgacgc cagcgccgct ctgatcctcg acctggcccg cagcagcggc gcgcgggtgc 4560 agtggctcgg ccagcatagc gccgcggccg gctcctcccg gcaccgtctg ctcagcgccg 4620 acagcgccca gggctgctcc cttcgcctgg gccagcagct ccatgcctgc ggcggcggct 4680 tcagcctgag cgaacagcac cccctgggtg gccagcccct gaatctggcc ggtgccgcgc 4740 gcagcggcgg ctccgcgcaa tgggcggcca gcatcggcca cgacctggcc agcctgggcg 4800 gcgatgacag cagtgcggcc ccacgcattg ccaaccatta cccggcgctt accggccaat 4860 tcgtttcgtt ctcgatcctg gtttgaagga gctgacagat gaccgagcaa acccagaaca 4920 ccctgattcc ccgtggcgtg aatgacgcca acctccagca agccctggcc aagttccgca 4980 agctgctggg cgaggacaac gtcctggtca aggacgagca actcatcccc tacaacaaga 5040 tcatgatcgc agtggacaac gccgaacacg cgccctccgc tgctgtcacc gccaccactg 5100 tggaacaggt gcagggcgtg gtgaagatct gcaacgaata cggcattccg gtgtggacca 5160 tctccaccgg ccgcaacttc ggttacggct cggcggcccc cggccagcgt ggccaggtga 5220 tcctcgacct gaagaaaatg aacaagatca tccacgtaga cccggacctg tgcaccgccc 5280 tggtggaacc gggggtgacc taccagcagc tgtacgatta cctggaagag aacaacatcc 5340 cgctgatgct gtccttctct gcaccctcgg ccatcgccgg cccgctgggc aacaccatgg 5400 accgtggcgt gggctacacc ccctacggcg agcacttcct catgcagtgc ggcatggaag 5460 tggtgctggc caatggcgac gtctaccgca ccggcatggg cggggtgaaa ggcgacaacg 5520 cctggcaggt gttcaagtgg ggctacggcc cgaccctgga cggcatgttc acccaggcca 5580 actacggcat ctgcaccaag atgggtttct ggctgatgcc caagcccccg gtgttcaagc 5640 ccttcgagat caagttcgag aacgagtccg acatcagcga gatcgtcgaa ttcatccgtc 5700 cgctgcgcat cgcccaggtc atcccaaact ccgtggtgat cgccggtgtg ctctgggagg 5760 cctccacctg caatacccgc cgctcggact acaccactga gccgggcgcc actcccgaca 5820 ccatcctgaa gcagatccag aaggacaagg aactcggcgc ctggaacgtc tatgccgctc 5880 tctacggcac gcaggaacag gtggacgtga actggaagat cgtcaccggc gccctggcca 5940 aactgggcaa gggcaggatt gtcacccagg aagaggccgg cgatacccag cccttcaagt 6000 accgttccca gttgatgtcc ggcgtcccca acctgcagga attcggcctg tacaactggc 6060 gcgggggcgg cggctccatg tggttcgccc cggtcagcca ggcccgtggc atcgagtgcg 6120 acaagcagca ggcgctggcc aagaagatcc tcaacaagca cggcctggac tacgtcggcg 6180 agttcattgt cggctggcgc gacatgcacc acgtaatcga cgtgctgtac gaccgcacca 6240 accccgagga aacccaacgc gcctacgcct gcttccacga gttgctggat gagttcgaga 6300 agcacggcta tgcggtgtac cgcgtgaaca ctgcgttcca ggagcgcgtg gcgcagaggt 6360 acggcacggt caagcgcagg tggaacacgc catcaagcgc gccctggacc cgaacaacat 6420 cctggcaccc ggcaaatccg gcatcgacct cgccaacaag ttctaaccct aagcaagacc 6480 ccgccgggta a 6491 2 611 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 2 Met Thr Met Thr Arg Lys Pro Ser Ser Asn Pro Gly Arg Ser Met Gly 1 5 10 15 Asp Glu Phe Leu Lys Gln Leu Leu Gly Arg Gln Lys Ser Leu Ile Val 20 25 30 Asp Gln Ala Asn Gln Phe Gly Ser Ser Gly Leu Pro Ser Ala Glu Gln 35 40 45 Leu Ala Glu Thr Val Ala Phe Ala Pro Gln Asp Gly Asn Ile Trp Leu 50 55 60 Cys Gly Gln Arg Met Met Leu Leu Gln Gly Ala Ala Phe Gly Ala Ile 65 70 75 80 Arg Arg Glu Leu Val Glu Ala Leu Gly Leu Asp Lys Ala Arg Gly Leu 85 90 95 Leu Thr Arg Ile Gly Trp Gln Ala Gly Thr Arg Asp Ala Ala Gln Val 100 105 110 Ser Ala Gln Trp Pro Glu Gly Asp His Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ser Ala Gly 115 120 125 Pro Arg Leu His Met Leu Glu Gly Met Val Asn Val Glu Val Val Arg 130 135 140 Phe Asp Ile Asp Ser Ser Ile Gly His Phe Tyr Ser Glu Phe Phe Trp 145 150 155 160 His Asn Ser Leu Glu Ala Asp Glu His Ile Ala Ser Tyr Gly Leu Gly 165 170 175 Ser Glu Pro Ala Cys Trp Met Glu Val Gly Tyr Ala Ser Gly Tyr Thr 180 185 190 Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Arg Leu Val Val Phe Arg Glu Gln Glu Cys Arg 195 200 205 Cys Met Gly His Ser Ala Cys Arg Ile Val Gly Lys Pro Ala Glu Gln 210 215 220 Trp Glu Asp Ile Asp Thr Asp Leu Ala His Leu Asp Ala Ser Asp Phe 225 230 235 240 Leu Ser Arg Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ala Asp Glu Thr Glu Met Ala Asp 245 250 255 Leu Asp Glu Pro Pro Glu Asp Gln Ala Met Val Gly Ile Ser Ala Ala 260 265 270 Phe Val Ala Ala Ser Gln Gln Leu Tyr Arg Val Ala Ser Thr Gln Ala 275 280 285 Thr Val Leu Leu Thr Gly Glu Ser Gly Val Gly Lys Glu Leu Phe Ala 290 295 300 Arg Thr Leu His Gln Ala Ser Pro Arg Arg Gln Thr Pro Leu Val Ala 305 310 315 320 Leu Asn Cys Ala Ala Leu Pro Glu Thr Leu Leu Glu Ala Glu Leu Phe 325 330 335 Gly Val Glu Arg Gly Ala Phe Thr Gly Ala Asp Arg Ser Arg Pro Gly 340 345 350 Arg Phe Glu Arg Ala Lys Gly Gly Thr Leu Phe Leu Asp Glu Ile Ala 355 360 365 Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Ala Gln Ser Lys Ile Leu Arg Val Leu Gln Glu 370 375 380 Gly Glu Ile Glu Arg Val Gly Gly Thr Ser Ala Ile Pro Val Asp Val 385 390 395 400 Arg Val Ile Ala Ala Thr Asn Leu Asp Leu Arg Arg Glu Val Glu Ala 405 410 415 Gly Arg Phe Arg Glu Asp Leu Leu Tyr Arg Leu Asn Val Phe Pro Ile 420 425 430 His Leu Pro Pro Leu Arg Glu Arg Arg Glu Asp Ile Pro Leu Leu Met 435 440 445 Ser Tyr Phe Leu Arg Lys Phe Ser Ala Arg His Gly Leu Lys Pro Leu 450 455 460 Gly Phe Ser Thr Arg Leu Val Asn Ala Leu Leu Thr Tyr Arg Phe Pro 465 470 475 480 Gly Asn Ile Arg Glu Leu Gln Asn Leu Ile Glu Arg Gly Val Ile Ala 485 490 495 Ala Gly Ser Gly Glu Leu Ile Asp Leu Val His Leu Ala Lys Ala Gly 500 505 510 Glu Pro Leu Arg Ser Ser Gly Ile Gly Leu Thr Ala Glu Gly Arg Leu 515 520 525 Asp Ala Val Gly Gly Glu Pro Gln Ala Arg Ala Glu Val Val Val Glu 530 535 540 Glu His Glu Pro Val Glu Leu Gly Leu Ala Asn Leu Gln Ala Phe Leu 545 550 555 560 Ala Gly Arg Asp Arg Val Leu Gly Thr Ser Leu Lys Glu Ile Glu Gln 565 570 575 Arg Leu Val His Leu Ala Leu Glu Arg Thr Gly Gly Asn Leu Thr Ala 580 585 590 Ala Ala Gln Met Leu Gly Met Ser Arg Ala Gln Ile Ser Tyr Arg Leu 595 600 605 Lys Gly Glu 610 3 491 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 3 Met Asp Thr Thr Arg Pro Ala Tyr Gln Asn Leu Glu Leu Gln Pro Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Gln Trp Arg Ala Gly Ser Ser Gly Arg Pro Leu Glu Val Phe 20 25 30 Asp Pro Tyr Asn Asp Glu Leu Leu Leu Arg Ile Ala Leu Ala Ser Arg 35 40 45 Glu Asp Leu Asp Ala Ala Tyr Arg Lys Ala Arg Asp Ser Gln Arg Glu 50 55 60 Trp Ala Thr Thr Ala Pro Ala Glu Arg Ala Arg Val Leu Leu Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 Val Lys Ile Phe Asp Glu Arg Arg Glu Glu Ile Ile Asp Trp Ile Ile 85 90 95 Arg Glu Ser Gly Ser Thr Arg Ile Lys Ala Gln Ile Glu Trp Gly Ala 100 105 110 Ala Arg Ala Ile Thr Leu Glu Ser Ala Ser Leu Pro Asn Arg Val His 115 120 125 Gly Arg Ile Ile Ala Ser Asn Ile Ser Gly Lys Glu Ser Arg Val Tyr 130 135 140 Arg Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Ile Gly Val Ile Ser Pro Trp Asn Phe Pro 145 150 155 160 Leu His Leu Thr Ala Arg Ser Leu Ala Pro Ala Leu Ala Leu Gly Asn 165 170 175 Ala Val Val Val Lys Pro Ala Ser Asp Thr Pro Ile Thr Gly Gly Leu 180 185 190 Leu Leu Ala Arg Ile Phe Glu Glu Ala Gly Leu Pro Ala Gly Val Leu 195 200 205 Ser Val Val Val Gly Ser Gly Ala Glu Ile Gly Asp Ala Phe Val Glu 210 215 220 His Pro Val Pro Ala Leu Ile Ser Phe Thr Gly Ser Thr Gln Val Gly 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn Ile Gly Arg Ile Ala Ser Gly Gly Glu His Leu Lys His Val 245 250 255 Ala Leu Glu Leu Gly Gly Asn Ser Pro Phe Val Val Leu Ala Asp Ala 260 265 270 Asp Val Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ala Ala Val Val Gly Lys Phe Leu His 275 280 285 Gln Gly Gln Ile Cys Met Ala Ile Asn Arg Ile Ile Val Glu Gln Pro 290 295 300 Leu Leu Glu Asp Phe Thr Arg Arg Phe Val Glu Arg Val Lys Ala Leu 305 310 315 320 Pro Tyr Gly Asp Pro Ser Lys Pro Gly Thr Val Val Gly Pro Val Ile 325 330 335 Asn Ala Arg Gln Leu Ala Gly Leu Lys Glu Lys Ile Ala Thr Ala Lys 340 345 350 Ala Glu Gly Ala Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Glu Pro Gln Gly Asn Val 355 360 365 Met Pro Pro His Val Phe Gly Asn Val Thr Ala Asp Met Glu Ile Ala 370 375 380 Arg Glu Glu Ile Phe Gly Pro Leu Val Gly Ile Gln Ser Ala Arg Asp 385 390 395 400 Ala Glu His Ala Leu Glu Leu Ala Asn Ser Ser Glu Tyr Gly Leu Ser 405 410 415 Ser Ala Val Phe Thr Ala Ser Leu Glu Arg Gly Val Gln Phe Ala Arg 420 425 430 Arg Ile His Ala Gly Met Thr His Val Asn Asp Ile Pro Val Asn Asp 435 440 445 Glu Pro Asn Ala Pro Phe Gly Gly Glu Lys Asn Ser Gly Leu Gly Arg 450 455 460 Phe Asn Gly Asp Trp Ala Ile Glu Glu Phe Thr Thr Asp His Trp Ile 465 470 475 480 Thr Leu Gln His Ser Pro Arg Pro Tyr Pro Phe 485 490 4 111 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 4 Met Ser Ser Leu Leu Asn Ser Arg Ala Val Lys Arg Pro Leu Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Ala Leu Ile Phe Ala Leu Leu Ala Gly Gln Ala Phe Ala Asp 20 25 30 Gly Asp Gly Val Trp Lys Gly Gly Glu Asn Val Tyr Gln Lys Ile Cys 35 40 45 Gly His Cys His Glu Lys Gln Val Gly Pro Val Ile Thr Gly Arg Gln 50 55 60 Leu Pro Pro Gln Tyr Ile Ser Ala Val Val Arg Asn Gly Phe Arg Ala 65 70 75 80 Met Pro Ala Phe Pro Ala Ser Phe Ile Asp Asp Lys Ala Leu Gln Gln 85 90 95 Val Ala Glu Tyr Ile Ser Lys Thr Pro Ala Thr Val Ala Lys Pro 100 105 110 5 227 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 5 Met Asn Ile Glu Arg Arg Thr Leu Leu Lys Gly Met Ala Leu Gly Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Gly Ala Ala Met Gly Ala Phe Gly Leu Ala Met Thr Lys Ala 20 25 30 Met Leu Gly Gly Gln Ala Gln Pro Leu Pro Thr Leu Val Leu Val Asp 35 40 45 Gly Glu Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Phe Leu Ala Gly Val Gly Ser Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ala Ala Ser Lys Ala Glu Val Gln Arg Thr Asp Leu Gly Leu Asp Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Leu Glu Lys Arg Leu Arg Ser Gly Gln Gln Gln Arg Ile 85 90 95 Ile Gly Leu Val Asp Asp Ala Ser Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Asp Leu Ala 100 105 110 Arg Ser Ser Gly Ala Arg Val Gln Trp Leu Gly Gln His Ser Ala Ala 115 120 125 Ala Gly Ser Ser Arg His Arg Leu Leu Ser Ala Asp Ser Ala Gln Gly 130 135 140 Cys Ser Leu Arg Leu Gly Gln Gln Leu His Ala Cys Gly Gly Gly Phe 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Ser Glu Gln His Pro Leu Gly Gly Gln Pro Leu Asn Leu Ala 165 170 175 Gly Ala Ala Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Ala Gln Trp Ala Ala Ser Ile Gly 180 185 190 His Asp Leu Ala Ser Leu Gly Gly Asp Asp Ser Ser Ala Ala Pro Arg 195 200 205 Ile Ala Asn His Tyr Pro Ala Leu Thr Gly Gln Phe Val Ser Phe Ser 210 215 220 Ile Leu Val 225 6 530 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 6 Met Thr Glu Gln Thr Gln Asn Thr Leu Ile Pro Arg Gly Val Asn Asp 1 5 10 15 Ala Asn Leu Gln Gln Ala Leu Ala Lys Phe Arg Lys Leu Leu Gly Glu 20 25 30 Asp Asn Val Leu Val Lys Asp Glu Gln Leu Ile Pro Tyr Asn Lys Ile 35 40 45 Met Ile Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Glu His Ala Pro Ser Ala Ala Val Thr 50 55 60 Ala Thr Thr Val Glu Gln Val Gln Gly Val Val Lys Ile Cys Asn Glu 65 70 75 80 Tyr Gly Ile Pro Val Trp Thr Ile Ser Thr Gly Arg Asn Phe Gly Tyr 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ala Ala Pro Gly Gln Arg Gly Gln Val Ile Leu Asp Leu Lys 100 105 110 Lys Met Asn Lys Ile Ile His Val Asp Pro Asp Leu Cys Thr Ala Leu 115 120 125 Val Glu Pro Gly Val Thr Tyr Gln Gln Leu Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Glu Glu 130 135 140 Asn Asn Ile Pro Leu Met Leu Ser Phe Ser Ala Pro Ser Ala Ile Ala 145 150 155 160 Gly Pro Leu Gly Asn Thr Met Asp Arg Gly Val Gly Tyr Thr Pro Tyr 165 170 175 Gly Glu His Phe Leu Met Gln Cys Gly Met Glu Val Val Leu Ala Asn 180 185 190 Gly Asp Val Tyr Arg Thr Gly Met Gly Gly Val Lys Gly Asp Asn Ala 195 200 205 Trp Gln Val Phe Lys Trp Gly Tyr Gly Pro Thr Leu Asp Gly Met Phe 210 215 220 Thr Gln Ala Asn Tyr Gly Ile Cys Thr Lys Met Gly Phe Trp Leu Met 225 230 235 240 Pro Lys Pro Pro Val Phe Lys Pro Phe Glu Ile Lys Phe Glu Asn Glu 245 250 255 Ser Asp Ile Ser Glu Ile Val Glu Phe Ile Arg Pro Leu Arg Ile Ala 260 265 270 Gln Val Ile Pro Asn Ser Val Val Ile Ala Gly Val Leu Trp Glu Ala 275 280 285 Ser Thr Cys Asn Thr Arg Arg Ser Asp Tyr Thr Thr Glu Pro Gly Ala 290 295 300 Thr Pro Asp Thr Ile Leu Lys Gln Ile Gln Lys Asp Lys Glu Leu Gly 305 310 315 320 Ala Trp Asn Val Tyr Ala Ala Leu Tyr Gly Thr Gln Glu Gln Val Asp 325 330 335 Val Asn Trp Lys Ile Val Thr Gly Ala Leu Ala Lys Leu Gly Lys Gly 340 345 350 Arg Ile Val Thr Gln Glu Glu Ala Gly Asp Thr Gln Pro Phe Lys Tyr 355 360 365 Arg Ser Gln Leu Met Ser Gly Val Pro Asn Leu Gln Glu Phe Gly Leu 370 375 380 Tyr Asn Trp Arg Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Met Trp Phe Ala Pro Val Ser 385 390 395 400 Gln Ala Arg Gly Ile Glu Cys Asp Lys Gln Gln Ala Leu Ala Lys Lys 405 410 415 Ile Leu Asn Lys His Gly Leu Asp Tyr Val Gly Glu Phe Ile Val Gly 420 425 430 Trp Arg Asp Met His His Val Ile Asp Val Leu Tyr Asp Arg Thr Asn 435 440 445 Pro Glu Glu Thr Gln Arg Ala Tyr Ala Cys Phe His Glu Leu Leu Asp 450 455 460 Glu Phe Glu Lys His Gly Tyr Ala Val Tyr Arg Val Asn Thr Ala Phe 465 470 475 480 Gln Glu Arg Val Ala Gln Arg Tyr Gly Thr Val Lys Arg Arg Trp Asn 485 490 495 Thr Pro Ser Ser Ala Pro Trp Thr Arg Thr Thr Ser Trp His Pro Ala 500 505 510 Asn Pro Ala Ser Thr Ser Pro Thr Ser Ser Asn Pro Lys Gln Asp Pro 515 520 525 Ala Gly 530 7 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 7 atgaccatga ctcgcaaacc 20 8 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 8 tttgcgagtc atggtcatgg 20 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 9 cgcgcaaaca agagagaacc 20 10 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 10 cattcgatct gcgccttgat gc 22 11 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 11 tttgtggtct tggccgatgc 20 12 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 12 tgacgttgcc gaacacatgg 20 13 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 13 cccagcccca ataaaaaacg g 21 14 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 14 gattttctgg tagacgttct cgcc 24 15 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 15 cgtctaccag aaaatctgtg g 21 16 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 16 atgctgtcgt tctctgcacc 20 17 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 17 gacacatcct gaagcagatc c 21 18 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 18 tgaacactgc gttccaggag c 21 19 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 19 ggcagaagag cctgatcgtc g 21 20 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 20 actccggaga agtttctgc 19 21 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 21 atcagtccgt ggaacttcc 19 22 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 22 ttaacgacga gcccaacg 18 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 23 tgttcggcgt tgtccactgc 20 24 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 24 aacttcggtt acggctcg 18 25 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 25 gctcggacta caccactg 18 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 26 atggcaatat ctggctctgc 20 27 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 27 aaaccctcga gcaatccc 18 28 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 28 atgaccaagg ccatgctgg 19 29 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 29 ttcgctcagg ctgaaacc 18 30 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 30 gtaatggttg gcaatgcgtg g 21 31 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 31 tggatggaag tgggctacg 19 32 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 32 ttcgacatcg actccagcat cg 22 33 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 33 agctgctatt gcgcatcg 18 34 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 34 ttggtggcgc tcaactgc 18 35 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 35 aaatggccga tctggatgag c 21 36 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 36 tatcccactc cactgtccat gg 22 37 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 37 caccacttcc atgccgcact gc 22 38 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 38 tgcggtaaag ctctccattg g 21 39 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 39 caagtaatcg tacagctgct gg 22 40 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 40 agccgtaccc gaagttgcg 19 41 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 41 tgcgatcatg atcttgttgt aggg 24 42 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 42 gatcgagaac gaaacgaatt ggcc 24 43 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 43 gtgctgttcg ctcaagctga aacc 24 44 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 44 accacaccga tgatgccttg ctgc 24 45 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 45 tatgctggcc gatccactgc acc 23 46 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 46 ccttgagcag ggtacgacgt tcg 23 47 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 47 atcaccgggc ccacctgttt ttcg 24 48 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 48 ttggagatgt actcggcgac ctgc 24 49 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 49 tgttgcaggg tgatccagtg atcg 24 50 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 50 actccgtttt ttattggggc tggg 24 51 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 51 tggcgatctt ctccttcaaa cc 22 52 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 52 gccgaaaatt tcttcgcg 18 53 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 53 tggtgcagga acttgcc 17 54 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 54 gccttgatac gggtgctgc 19 55 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 55 aagttccacg gactgatcac gcc 23 56 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 56 attcgatctg cgccttgatg cggg 24 57 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 57 gtccatgggt tctctcttgt ttgc 24 58 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 58 ctgtccttta acaactaacg tgcc 24 59 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 59 gatacgtcag gcaagacg 18 60 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 60 ctgaatagca ttgttcctac ctcc 24 61 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 61 caccaagctt tgttgatctc ccttcaag 28 62 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 62 ttcggcgcca tccgtcgcga gttggtg 27 63 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 63 agcggcatcg gcctgacc 18 64 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 64 gttgtcaaag aacatgaacc gg 22 65 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 65 tatgtctggc cctctgtgcg gttg 24 66 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 66 agtatgtctc tggccctcgg tg 22 67 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 67 taaacatgcc cagacggtgg 20 68 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 68 gatttgcaga accgtctgtc c 21 69 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 69 tacggcatgt gcaccaagat ggg 23 70 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 70 aggaattcgg cctgtactac tggc 24 71 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 71 agttgctgga tgagttcgag aagc 24 72 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 72 gcatgatgga tcctgcacgt gatatgg 27 73 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 73 tgggaacggt acttgaagg 19 74 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 74 gttttcccag tcacgac 17 75 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 75 agcggataac aatttcacac agga 24 76 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 76 gtaaaacgac ggccagt 17 77 16 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 77 aacagctatg accatg 16 78 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 78 gaaattggag ctccaaatga cat 23 79 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 79 ctcatgacag gatcctcaag gct 23 80 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 80 gttcatacca gtctttacgt ggg 23 81 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 81 ttccatactc tgtacccagc cc 22 82 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 82 attccggtct gcatcaactg c 21 83 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 83 tggtggtatt cggtaccg 18 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 84 tacttccata ctctgtaccc 20 85 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 85 agcaccgaaa cgccagtcat cc 22 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 86 gcggacatcc atagagaagc 20 87 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 87 atctctaata ccggtgcc 18 88 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 88 aagcataacc gctcaaaggc 20 89 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 89 attgccccca cgattattgc gacc 24 90 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 90 gattgcccca taaccctcc 19 91 1562 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 91 ggtagttttc ttcaggattt ctctaaacta tcgtttatca aacgataaac cttggttcgc 60 ttaattgcga aaattgcata aaccaataat ccaaaaaaca atttattttt atttcgtggt 120 cgcaataatc gtgggtgcaa tcaaacggta ttttcctgct tcactttata agaataagaa 180 gaggtagaaa gatgataaaa atgaaaattg ccagcgtact cgtactgcct ttgagcggtt 240 atgcttttag cgtgcacgct acacaggtgt tcgatctgga gggttatggg gcaatctctc 300 gtgccatggg aggtaccagc tcatcgtatt ataccggcaa tgctgcattg atcagcaacc 360 ccgctacatt gagcttggct ccggacggaa gtcagtttga gctcgggccg gatatagtaa 420 gtaccgatat tgaggttcgt gacagcagcg gtgcgaaagt aaaaagcagc acggaatcca 480 ataatcgagg cccctatatc ggtccgcagt tgagctatgt tactcagctg gatgactggc 540 gtttcggtgc tgggttgttt gtgagtagtg ggctgggtac agagtatgga agtaacagtt 600 tcttgtcaca gacagaaaat ggcacccaaa ccagctttga caattccagc cgtctgattg 660 tgttgcgcgc tcctgtaggc tttagttatc aagtaacacc acaacttaca gtcggcgcaa 720 gtgctgatct ggtctggacc tcactcaatc tcgagcttct actcccatca tctcaggtgg 780 gagcactcgc tgcgcagggt aatctttcag gtgatttagt cgccccactc gctgggtttg 840 tgggtgctgg tggtgctgca catttcagtc taagtcgcaa caacccagtt ggcggtgccg 900 tggatgcaat cgggtggggt gggcgtttgg gtctgaccta caagctcacg gataagacag 960 tccttggtgc gatgtacaac ttcaagactt ctgtgggcga cctcgaaggg acggcaacac 1020 tttctgctat cagcggtgat ggtgcggtgt tgccattaca tggcgatatc cgcgtaaaag 1080 acttcgagat gcccgccagt ctgacgttcg gctttgctca tcaattcaac gagcgttggc 1140 tggttgctgc tgatgtcaag cgtgtctact ggagcgatgt catggaagac atcagtgtgg 1200 atttcaaatc gcagtcaggt gggattgata tcgaattacc acacaactat caggatatta 1260 cggtggcctc catcggcacc gcttacagag ttaatgacaa gctaactctt cgtgctggat 1320 atagctatgc gcaacaggcg ctggacagta ggctgatatt gccagtaatt ccagcttatt 1380 tgaagaaaca cgtttctctc ggtagcgatt atagttttga taaaaaatca aaactcaatt 1440 tggcgatttc ttttggccta aaagagagct tgaacacacc atcataccta agcggcaccg 1500 aaacgttgaa gcaaagccac agccaaataa acgcagtggt ttcctacagc aaaagctttt 1560 aa 1562 92 456 PRT Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 92 Met Ile Lys Met Lys Ile Ala Ser Val Leu Val Leu Pro Leu Ser Gly 1 5 10 15 Tyr Ala Phe Ser Val His Ala Thr Gln Val Phe Asp Leu Glu Gly Tyr 20 25 30 Gly Ala Ile Ser Arg Ala Met Gly Gly Thr Ser Ser Ser Tyr Tyr Thr 35 40 45 Gly Asn Ala Ala Leu Ile Ser Asn Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Gly Ser Gln Phe Glu Leu Gly Pro Asp Ile Val Ser Thr Asp Ile 65 70 75 80 Glu Val Arg Asp Ser Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Lys Ser Ser Thr Glu Ser 85 90 95 Asn Asn Arg Gly Pro Tyr Ile Gly Pro Gln Leu Ser Tyr Val Thr Gln 100 105 110 Leu Asp Asp Trp Arg Phe Gly Ala Gly Leu Phe Val Ser Ser Gly Leu 115 120 125 Gly Thr Glu Tyr Gly Ser Asn Ser Phe Leu Ser Gln Thr Glu Asn Gly 130 135 140 Thr Gln Thr Ser Phe Asp Asn Ser Ser Arg Leu Ile Val Leu Arg Ala 145 150 155 160 Pro Val Gly Phe Ser Tyr Gln Val Thr Pro Gln Leu Thr Val Gly Ala 165 170 175 Ser Ala Asp Leu Val Trp Thr Ser Leu Asn Leu Glu Leu Leu Leu Pro 180 185 190 Ser Ser Gln Val Gly Ala Leu Ala Ala Gln Gly Asn Leu Ser Gly Asp 195 200 205 Leu Val Ala Pro Leu Ala Gly Phe Val Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Ala His 210 215 220 Phe Ser Leu Ser Arg Asn Asn Pro Val Gly Gly Ala Val Asp Ala Ile 225 230 235 240 Gly Trp Gly Gly Arg Leu Gly Leu Thr Tyr Lys Leu Thr Asp Lys Thr 245 250 255 Val Leu Gly Ala Met Tyr Asn Phe Lys Thr Ser Val Gly Asp Leu Glu 260 265 270 Gly Thr Ala Thr Leu Ser Ala Ile Ser Gly Asp Gly Ala Val Leu Pro 275 280 285 Leu His Gly Asp Ile Arg Val Lys Asp Phe Glu Met Pro Ala Ser Leu 290 295 300 Thr Phe Gly Phe Ala His Gln Phe Asn Glu Arg Trp Leu Val Ala Ala 305 310 315 320 Asp Val Lys Arg Val Tyr Trp Ser Asp Val Met Glu Asp Ile Ser Val 325 330 335 Asp Phe Lys Ser Gln Ser Gly Gly Ile Asp Ile Glu Leu Pro His Asn 340 345 350 Tyr Gln Asp Ile Thr Val Ala Ser Ile Gly Thr Ala Tyr Arg Val Asn 355 360 365 Asp Lys Leu Thr Leu Arg Ala Gly Tyr Ser Tyr Ala Gln Gln Ala Leu 370 375 380 Asp Ser Arg Leu Ile Leu Pro Val Ile Pro Ala Tyr Leu Lys Lys His 385 390 395 400 Val Ser Leu Gly Ser Asp Tyr Ser Phe Asp Lys Lys Ser Lys Leu Asn 405 410 415 Leu Ala Ile Ser Phe Gly Leu Lys Glu Ser Leu Asn Thr Pro Ser Tyr 420 425 430 Leu Ser Gly Thr Glu Thr Leu Lys Gln Ser His Ser Gln Ile Asn Ala 435 440 445 Val Val Ser Tyr Ser Lys Ser Phe 450 455 93 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 93 gatgatgaag cttccccacc aaaccc 26 94 30 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 94 tcatagatca agcttttccc agtcacgacg 30 95 25 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 95 ggggatcctc accgccggct caagg 25 96 25 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 96 gcgggtggga tccatgggtt ctctc 25 97 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 97 cggtacttac tatatccggc ccg 23 98 1836 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 98 tcactccccc ttgagccggt agctgatctg cgcgcgactc atgcccaaca tctgcgccgc 60 cgcggtgagg ttgccgccgg tgcgttccag ggcaaggtgc accaggcgct gctcgatctc 120 cttcagtgat gtgcctagta cccggtcgcg cccggcgagg aaggcctgca ggttggccag 180 ccccagctca accggttcat gctcctcgac aaccacctca gcccgcgctt gcggttcgcc 240 gccgacggca tccagacggc cttcggcggt caggccgatg ccgctggagc gaagtggctc 300 gccggctttt gccaggtgca ccaggtcgat cagctcgcca ctgcctgcgg cgatcacgcc 360 gcgctcgatc aggttctgca gctcacggat attgccgggg aagcggtagg tcagcagcgc 420 gttgaccagc cgcgtgctga aacccagggg tttgagccca tggcgcgcac tgaacttgcg 480 caggaagtag ctcatcagga gcgggatgtc ctcacggcgc tcgcgcaggg gcggcagatg 540 gatggggaac acgttcagcc ggtacagcag gtcctcgcgg aagcgcccgg cctcgacctc 600 tcggcgcagg tccagattgg tggcggcgat caccctcaca tccaccggga tcgccgaggt 660 accacctacc cgctcgatct cgccctcctg cagcacccgc aggatcttgc tctgggcgct 720 gaggctcagg gtggcgatct cgtcgaggaa cagggtgccg cccttggccc gctcgaagcg 780 ccccgggcgg gaacggtcgg cgccggtgaa ggcaccgcgc tccacgccga acagttcggc 840 ttccagcaga gtttccggca acgccgcgca gttgagcgcc accaacggcg tttggcggcg 900 cgggctggcc tggtgcaggg tgcgcgcgaa gagctccttg cccacccccg attcaccggt 960 cagcagtacg gtggcctggg tcgacgcaac gcggtagagc tgctggctgg cggcgacaaa 1020 ggcggcggaa atgcccacca tggcctggtc ctcgggcggc tcatccagat cggccatttc 1080 cgtctcgtct gccgagccgt aggtgctccg gctgaggaag tcgctggcat ccaggtgggc 1140 caggtcggtg tcgatgtcct cccactgctc cgccggcttg ccgacgatgc ggcacgccga 1200 atggcccatg cagcggcatt cctgctcgcg gaacaccacc aggcgcccca gcagggagga 1260 ggtgtagccg ctggcgtagc ccacttccat ccagcaggcc ggttcgctgc ccagcccgta 1320 gctggcgatg tgctcgtcgg cttccaggga gttgtgccag aagaattcgg aatagaaatg 1380 cccgatgctg gagtcgatgt cgaagcgcac cacttccacg ttcaccatgc cctccagcat 1440 gtgcaggcgc gggcctgcgc tgtagaggct ggcgtggtcg ccctcgggcc actgcgcgct 1500 gacctgagcg gcatccctcg ttccggcctg ccagccaatg cgggtcagaa ggccacgggc 1560 cttgtcgagg ccgagggctt ccaccaactc gcgacggatg gcgccgaagg cggccccctg 1620 cagcagcatc atgcgctggc cgcagagcca gatattgcca tcctggggcg cgaaggcgac 1680 ggtctccgcc agttgctcgg ccgagggcag cccgctgctg ccgaactggt tggcctggtc 1740 gacgatcagg ctcttctgcc ggccgagcaa ctgcttgagg aattcatccc ccatgctgcg 1800 gccgggattg ctcgagggtt tgcgagtcat ggtcat 1836 99 1476 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 99 atggacacca cccgccctgc ctaccagaac ctcgagctcc aacctctcgc cgggcaatgg 60 cgcgccggca gtagcggtcg cccgttggag gtcttcgacc cctacaacga cgagctgcta 120 ttgcgcatcg ccctggccag ccgcgaagac ctcgacgcag cctaccgcaa ggcccgcgac 180 agccagcggg agtgggcgac cacggcgccg gccgagcgcg cccgggtgct gctggaagcg 240 gtgaagatct tcgatgagcg ccgcgaggag attatcgact ggatcatccg cgagtccggc 300 agcacccgca tcaaggcgca gatcgaatgg ggcgccgccc gcgccatcac cctggagtcg 360 gccagcctgc cgaatcgcgt gcacgggcgc atcatcgcct ccaacatctc cggcaaggag 420 agccgcgtgt accgcgcgcc cctgggcgtg atcggcgtga tcagtccgtg gaacttcccc 480 ctgcacctca ctgcccgctc cctggccccg gccctggccc tgggcaatgc cgtggtggtc 540 aagccggcca gcgacacccc gatcaccggt ggcctactgc tggcgcgcat cttcgaagaa 600 gccggcctgc cggcgggcgt gctcagcgtg gtggtgggtt cgggcgcgga gattggtgac 660 gccttcgtcg agcacccggt gcccgccctc atttccttca ccggctccac tcaggtgggc 720 cgcaacatcg gccgcatcgc cagcggcggt gagcacctca agcacgtggc gctggaactg 780 ggcggcaaca gcccgtttgt ggtcttggcc gatgccgacg tggagcaggc ggtgaatgcg 840 gccgtggtcg gcaagttcct gcaccagggc cagatctgca tggcgatcaa ccgcattatc 900 gtcgagcagc ctttgctgga agatttcacc cgccgcttcg tcgagcgcgt caaggccctg 960 ccctatggcg acccgagcaa gccggggacc gtggtcggtc cggtgatcaa cgccaggcag 1020 ctggccggtc tgaaggagaa gatcgccacc gccaaggccg aaggcgccac cctgctgctg 1080 ggtggcgagc cccagggcaa cgtcatgccg ccccatgtgt tcggcaacgt caccgccgac 1140 atggaaatcg cccgcgaaga aattttcggc ccgctggtgg gcatccaatc cgcccgtgac 1200 gccgaacacg ccctggagtt ggccaacagc agcgagtacg gcctgtccag cgcggtgttc 1260 accgccagcc tcgagcgcgg cgtgcagttc gcccggcgca tccacgccgg catgacccac 1320 gtgaacgaca tcccggttaa cgacgagccc aacgctccct tcggcggcga gaagaactct 1380 ggcctcggcc gcttcaacgg cgactgggcc atcgaggagt tcaccaccga tcactggatc 1440 accctgcaac acagcccgcg gccctatccg ttctga 1476 100 336 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 100 atgtcctcac tcctcaacag ccgagctgtg aaacggccac tgctggccag ccttgcacta 60 attttcgccc tgctcgccgg ccaggccttc gccgacggcg acggcgtctg gaaaggcggc 120 gagaacgtct accagaaaat ctgtggccac tgccacgaaa aacaggtggg cccggtgatc 180 accggccgcc agctaccgcc gcagtacatc agtgccgtgg tgcgcaacgg cttccgcgcc 240 atgccggcct ttccggcctc gttcatcgac gacaaggccc tgcagcaggt cgccgagtac 300 atctccaaga cccctgctac tgtggccaag ccctga 336 101 684 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 101 atgaacatcg aacgtcgtac cctgctcaag ggcatggccc tgggcggcct ggctggcgcc 60 gccatgggcg ccttcggcct ggcgatgacc aaggccatgc tgggcgggca ggcccagcca 120 ctgcccaccc tcgtcctggt agatggcgag gcggccggag cggccttcct cgccggagtc 180 ggttccagcc cggcggccag caaggccgag gtgcagcgca ccgatctcgg cctggacttc 240 gtcttgggcc tggagaagcg cctgcgcagt ggtcagcagc aacgcatcat cggtctggtg 300 gatgacgcca gcgccgctct gatcctcgac ctggcccgca gcagcggcgc gcgggtgcag 360 tggctcggcc agcatagcgc cgcggccggc tcctcccggc accgtctgct cagcgccgac 420 agcgcccagg gctgctccct tcgcctgggc cagcagctcc atgcctgcgg cggcggcttc 480 agcctgagcg aacagcaccc cctgggtggc cagcccctga atctggccgg tgccgcgcgc 540 agcggcggct ccgcgcaatg ggcggccagc atcggccacg acctggccag cctgggcggc 600 gatgacagca gtgcggcccc acgcattgcc aaccattacc cggcgcttac cggccaattc 660 gtttcgttct cgatcctggt ttga 684 102 1593 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 102 atgaccgagc aaacccagaa caccctgatt ccccgtggcg tgaatgacgc caacctccag 60 caagccctgg ccaagttccg caagctgctg ggcgaggaca acgtcctggt caaggacgag 120 caactcatcc cctacaacaa gatcatgatc gcagtggaca acgccgaaca cgcgccctcc 180 gctgctgtca ccgccaccac tgtggaacag gtgcagggcg tggtgaagat ctgcaacgaa 240 tacggcattc cggtgtggac catctccacc ggccgcaact tcggttacgg ctcggcggcc 300 cccggccagc gtggccaggt gatcctcgac ctgaagaaaa tgaacaagat catccacgta 360 gacccggacc tgtgcaccgc cctggtggaa ccgggggtga cctaccagca gctgtacgat 420 tacctggaag agaacaacat cccgctgatg ctgtccttct ctgcaccctc ggccatcgcc 480 ggcccgctgg gcaacaccat ggaccgtggc gtgggctaca ccccctacgg cgagcacttc 540 ctcatgcagt gcggcatgga agtggtgctg gccaatggcg acgtctaccg caccggcatg 600 ggcggggtga aaggcgacaa cgcctggcag gtgttcaagt ggggctacgg cccgaccctg 660 gacggcatgt tcacccaggc caactacggc atctgcacca agatgggttt ctggctgatg 720 cccaagcccc cggtgttcaa gcccttcgag atcaagttcg agaacgagtc cgacatcagc 780 gagatcgtcg aattcatccg tccgctgcgc atcgcccagg tcatcccaaa ctccgtggtg 840 atcgccggtg tgctctggga ggcctccacc tgcaataccc gccgctcgga ctacaccact 900 gagccgggcg ccactcccga caccatcctg aagcagatcc agaaggacaa ggaactcggc 960 gcctggaacg tctatgccgc tctctacggc acgcaggaac aggtggacgt gaactggaag 1020 atcgtcaccg gcgccctggc caaactgggc aagggcagga ttgtcaccca ggaagaggcc 1080 ggcgataccc agcccttcaa gtaccgttcc cagttgatgt ccggcgtccc caacctgcag 1140 gaattcggcc tgtacaactg gcgcgggggc ggcggctcca tgtggttcgc cccggtcagc 1200 caggcccgtg gcatcgagtg cgacaagcag caggcgctgg ccaagaagat cctcaacaag 1260 cacggcctgg actacgtcgg cgagttcatt gtcggctggc gcgacatgca ccacgtaatc 1320 gacgtgctgt acgaccgcac caaccccgag gaaacccaac gcgcctacgc ctgcttccac 1380 gagttgctgg atgagttcga gaagcacggc tatgcggtgt accgcgtgaa cactgcgttc 1440 caggagcgcg tggcgcagag gtacggcacg gtcaagcgca ggtggaacac gccatcaagc 1500 gcgccctgga cccgaacaac atcctggcac ccggcaaatc cggcatcgac ctcgccaaca 1560 agttctaacc ctaagcaaga ccccgccggg taa 1593 103 1371 DNA Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 103 atgataaaaa tgaaaattgc cagcgtactc gtactgcctt tgagcggtta tgcttttagc 60 gtgcacgcta cacaggtgtt cgatctggag ggttatgggg caatctctcg tgccatggga 120 ggtaccagct catcgtatta taccggcaat gctgcattga tcagcaaccc cgctacattg 180 agcttggctc cggacggaag tcagtttgag ctcgggccgg atatagtaag taccgatatt 240 gaggttcgtg acagcagcgg tgcgaaagta aaaagcagca cggaatccaa taatcgaggc 300 ccctatatcg gtccgcagtt gagctatgtt actcagctgg atgactggcg tttcggtgct 360 gggttgtttg tgagtagtgg gctgggtaca gagtatggaa gtaacagttt cttgtcacag 420 acagaaaatg gcacccaaac cagctttgac aattccagcc gtctgattgt gttgcgcgct 480 cctgtaggct ttagttatca agtaacacca caacttacag tcggcgcaag tgctgatctg 540 gtctggacct cactcaatct cgagcttcta ctcccatcat ctcaggtggg agcactcgct 600 gcgcagggta atctttcagg tgatttagtc gccccactcg ctgggtttgt gggtgctggt 660 ggtgctgcac atttcagtct aagtcgcaac aacccagttg gcggtgccgt ggatgcaatc 720 gggtggggtg ggcgtttggg tctgacctac aagctcacgg ataagacagt ccttggtgcg 780 atgtacaact tcaagacttc tgtgggcgac ctcgaaggga cggcaacact ttctgctatc 840 agcggtgatg gtgcggtgtt gccattacat ggcgatatcc gcgtaaaaga cttcgagatg 900 cccgccagtc tgacgttcgg ctttgctcat caattcaacg agcgttggct ggttgctgct 960 gatgtcaagc gtgtctactg gagcgatgtc atggaagaca tcagtgtgga tttcaaatcg 1020 cagtcaggtg ggattgatat cgaattacca cacaactatc aggatattac ggtggcctcc 1080 atcggcaccg cttacagagt taatgacaag ctaactcttc gtgctggata tagctatgcg 1140 caacaggcgc tggacagtag gctgatattg ccagtaattc cagcttattt gaagaaacac 1200 gtttctctcg gtagcgatta tagttttgat aaaaaatcaa aactcaattt ggcgatttct 1260 tttggcctaa aagagagctt gaacacacca tcatacctaa gcggcaccga aacgttgaag 1320 caaagccaca gccaaataaa cgcagtggtt tcctacagca aaagctttta a 1371 104 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 104 gcttccacgg tatctcg 17 105 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 105 cagtcaatcc gctgcac 17 106 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 106 gcagtatggt cacctgttcc 20 107 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 107 ggttcgacca ccaggctac 19 108 19 DNA Artificial Sequence primer 108 ggatctcaaa gccctgacc 19 109 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 109 tgctgcacaa ggccggtatc g 21 110 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 110 ggtcatgaac cagctgaagc g 21 111 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 111 cctgtccgtt aatcgaacg 19 112 3554 DNA Pseudomonas putida 112 atgagctcct tggatagaaa aaagcctcaa aatagatcga aaaataatta ttataatatc 60 tgcctcaagg agaaaggatc tgaagagctg acgtgtgaag aacatgcacg catcatattt 120 gatgggctct acgagtttgt gggccttctt gatgctcatg gaaatgtgct tgaagtgaac 180 caggtcgcat tggagggggg cgggattact ctggaagaaa tacgagggaa gccattctgg 240 aaggcgcgtt ggtggcaaat ttcaaaaaaa accgaggcga cccaaaagcg acttgttgaa 300 actgcatcat ccggtgaatt tgttcgctgt gatgttgaga ttcttggaaa atcaggtgga 360 agagaggtaa tatcggtcga tttttcattg ctgccaattt gcaatgaaga agggagcatt 420 gtttaccttc ttgcggaagg gcgcaatatt accgataaga agaaagccga ggccatgctg 480 gcgttgaaga accaggaatt ggagcagtcg gttgagtgta tccgaaaact cgataatgcg 540 aagagtgatt tctttgccaa ggtgagccat gagttgcgca ctccgctgtc tttgattcta 600 ggccactgga agccgttatg gcgggcagag gctgggcgtg aatcgccgta ttggaagcag 660 tttgaggtca ttcagcgtaa tgcaatgacc ctgttgaaac aggttaacac gctgcttgac 720 ttggcgaaaa tggacgcccg gcagatgggg ctttcctatc ggcgagccaa tcttagtcag 780 ctcacccgta ctattagctc gaattttgaa ggaatagccc agcaaaaatc aataacgttc 840 gatacaaaac tgcctgtaca gatggtcgct gaggtggatt gtgagaaata cgaacgcatt 900 atccttaact tgctttccaa tgcgtttaaa ttcacccctg acggggggct tatccgttgc 960 tgtcttagtt tgagtcgacc aaattatgcc ttggttactg tatctgatag cgggccgggt 1020 attcctcctg cactgcgtaa agaaatattt gaacgtttcc accagctaag ccaggaaggt 1080 caacaagcta cgcggggtac aggcttgggg ctttccattg tgaaagaatt cgttgaattg 1140 caccgtggaa caatttctgt aagtgatgcc ccgggcgggg gggcgctttt tcaggtaaag 1200 ctgccgctga atgctcctga aggtgcttat gttgcgagta acaccgcgcc gcgaagagat 1260 aatcctcagg tcgtggatac ggatgagtac cttttgctgg cgcccaatgc ggaaaatgaa 1320 gccgaggtgc ttccatttca atccgaccag cctcgggtgc taatcgttga agataaccct 1380 gatatgcgtg gttttataaa ggactgtctc agtagcgact atcaagttta tgttgcaccc 1440 gacggtgcaa aggcattgga gttgatgtca aacatgccgc cagacctgtt gattacagac 1500 ctgatgatgc ctgttatgag cggcgatatg ctggttcacc aagtgcgtaa gaaaaatgaa 1560 ctttcacata tcccgatcat ggtgctgtcg gccaagtcag acgcagaact gcgtgtgaaa 1620 ttgctctccg agtcggtgca ggactttctt cttaagccat tttctgctca tgagctacga 1680 gcgcgtgtaa gcaatctggt atccatgaag gtggcaggcg atgcgttgcg taaggagctt 1740 tccgatcagg gggatgatat tgcgatactt actcaccgtc tgatcaaaag tcgccatcgt 1800 cttcagcaga gtaacatcgc attatccgcc tcggaagcgc gttggaaagc agtgtatgaa 1860 aactctgcgg ccggtattgt actgaccgac ccggaaaacc gaatactcaa cgccaatcct 1920 gcatttcaac gcattaccgg atatggggaa aaggatttgg agggactttc catggagcaa 1980 ttgactccat ctgacgaaag cccacagata aagcagcgtc tggccaattt gcttcagggt 2040 gggggagcgg aatacagtgt ggagcgctcc tatctatgca aaaatggttc tacgatttgg 2100 gccaatgcga gtgtctcgct gatgcctcaa cgtgtcggtg aatctccagt tatactgcag 2160 atcatcgatg acatcactga gaagaaacaa gcacaggaaa atcttaacca attgcagcaa 2220 caacttgtgt acgtttcccg atcagctacg atgggtgaat ttgcagccta tattgcacac 2280 gagataaacc aaccgctctc ggcgatcatg accaatgcca atgctggcac acgttggtta 2340 ggtaatgagc catctaacat cccagaggct aaagaggcac tggctcgcat tatccgagat 2400 tccgaccgcg ctgcagaaat tatccgtatg gtacgctcct tcctgaagcg tcaagaaacg 2460 gtgctgaaac cgattgatct aaaagcactg gtaactgata caagcctgat acttaaggcc 2520 cctagtcaga ataacagtgt caatttggat gttgttgcgg atgatgaact ccctgagata 2580 tggggggatg gtgtacagat ccagcagttg ataataaatc tggctatgaa cgctattgaa 2640 gcgatcagcc aagccgactg tgaaaccagg cagctaaccc tgtcattctc aggcaatgat 2700 acaggtgatg cgcttgttat ctcagtgaaa gatacaggtc caggtatttc agagaggcag 2760 atggcgcagt tgttcaacgc attctacacc acaaaaaaag aagggcttgg tatgggattg 2820 gcaatctgtc ttacaatcac ggaagtgcat aacggtaaaa tatgggttga gtgcccgccc 2880 gctgggggtg cttgtttcct ggtaagtatc cctgccagac agggctccgg cacatgagtg 2940 atcgggcatc tgttatctat atcctcgatg acgacaatgc agtactggaa gcactgagca 3000 gcttggtgcg ttcaatcggc ctgagtgtcg agtgtttttc atccgctagc gtattcctga 3060 acgatgtcaa tcgctctgcc tgtggctgtc taattttgga tgtccgtatg cccgagatga 3120 gcgggttgga tgtgcaacga caactgaaag agcttggcga gcaaatcccc attattttta 3180 tcagcggcca cggtgatatt ccgatggcag tcaaagcgat caaggcgggt gcggtagact 3240 tcttcactaa accttttcga gaagaggagc tgcttggcgc tattcgcgcc gcgctgaagt 3300 tggcgcccca gcagagatca aacgctcccc gagtcagcga gcttaaagag aattacgaaa 3360 gcctcagcaa acgcgagcaa caggtgctta agttcgtctt gcgaggatat ctaaacaagc 3420 agacggctct agagcttgat atatcggaag caacagtgaa agtgcaccgc cataatatca 3480 tgaggaaaat gaaagtatct tcaatccagg atctggttcg agtaactgag cggctcaagg 3540 atagcctgga atag 3554 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a TmoST polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 113, 114, and 115; (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding two polypeptides TmoS of at least 973 amino acids having at least 83% identity, and TmoT of at least 220, having at least 85% identity based on the Smith-Waterman method of alignment with the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 113, 114 and 115; (c) an isolated nucleic acid that hybridizes with (a) or (b) under the following hybridization conditions: 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65° C. and washed with 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a), (b), or (c).
 2. The isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 113, 114,
 115. 3. A polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim
 1. 4. The polypeptide of claim 3 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO's: 116 and
 117. 5. A chimeric gene comprising the isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 1 operably linked to at least one suitable regulatory sequence.
 6. A host cell transformed with the chimeric gene of claim
 5. 7. The host cell of claim 6 wherein the host cell is a bacterium.
 8. The transformed host cell of claim 7 wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter, and Agrobacterium.
 9. A method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding a TmoST polypeptide comprising: (a) probing a genomic library with the nucleic acid fragment of claim 1; (b) selecting for a DNA clone that hybridizes with the nucleic acid fragment of claim 1; and (c) sequencing the genomic fragment that comprises the clone identified in step (b), wherein the sequenced genomic fragment encodes a TmoST polypeptide.
 10. A method of obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding a bacterial TmoST polypeptide, the method comprising: (a) synthesizing at least one oligonucleotide primer corresponding to at least a portion of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 113, 114, and 115; and (b) amplifying an insert present in a cloning vector using the oligonucleotide primer of step (a),wherein the amplified insert encodes a TmoST polypeptide.
 11. The product of the method of claims 9 or
 10. 12. A method for the production of p-hydroxybenzoate, the method comprising: (a) contacting a transformed host cell with a medium comprising, (i) an aromatic organic substrate selected from the group consisting of; toluene, p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and aromatic compounds degraded by the toluene monooxygenase enzyme pathway, (ii) at least one fermentable carbon substrate, and (iii) a nitrogen source; wherein the transformed host cell is (1) lacking a p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase activity, and (2) comprises genes encoding toluene-4-monooxygenase, TmoX, PcuR, p-cresol methylhydroxylase, TmoST polypeptides and p-hydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase activities, each gene being operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; (b) incubating the transformed host cell for a time sufficient to produce p-hydroxybenzoate; and (c) optionally recovering the p-hydroxybenzoate produced in (ii).
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the fermentable carbon substrate is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, carbon dioxide, methanol, formaldehyde, formate, and carbon-containing amines.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the fermentable carbon substrate is glucose.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the transformed host cell is selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter, and Agrobacterium.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the aromatic organic substrate is present in the medium in a concentration of less than 500 ppm.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the aromatic organic substrate is present in the medium from 30 ppm to 60 ppm.
 18. An expression plasmid pMAX47-2.
 19. The method of claim 12 wherein the transformed host cell comprises plasmid pMC4 as shown in FIG.
 4. 20. The method of claim 12 wherein the transformed host cell further comprises the genes encoding TmoST activity. 